Cristiano Ronaldo's caution in the Carling Cup final may
have been ill-deserved - but at least it was well-timed in terms of
the FA's disciplinary calendar.
The Portuguese winger's fourth yellow card in
domestic competitions fell on 1 March - the day after the cut-off
point for the five-bookings rule. A fifth caution for Ronaldo at
this stage of the season would only earn him a warning now, instead
of a ban.
That will surely be good news for Sir Alex Ferguson, who initially
feared Ronaldo would be "near to missing a game" when referee Chris
Foy booked the Portuguese winger after first rejecting his claim
for a penalty against Tottenham's Ledley King.
"It's disappointing, not so much because he didn't give the penalty
but because he booked Cristiano," Sir Alex told MUTV.
"You can't appeal against a yellow card so that has been added to
Cristiano's record now. That's twice it's happened this season (for
'simulation'). It's too easy an option for these referees. He (Foy)
should be challenged on why he gave the yellow card."
Ronaldo's other domestic bookings this season have all come in the
league, against Chelsea home and away and last month's 2-1 win over
Blackburn at Old Trafford.
The FA's Disciplinary Procedures document states: "If a player
accumulates five recorded cautions in First Team Competitive
Matches between the opening day of the Playing Season and the last
day in February in the same season, he will be suspended
automatically for a period covering One First Team Match."