Originally posted by zocoss:
[b]I mean how can a manager of a EPL club endorse such a thing? Remember Ben Thatcher, what he did to Pedro Mendes! Do you hear Stuart Pearce coming out and said something like that?
"In that situation, we would all love to do that."
That player wasn't even interested on the ball, he was going for Ronaldo's legs... He could have hurt somebody badly or even end someone's career... 
b]
As SAF said, maybe it's only because it's Ronaldo that all the controvesy arose. If it's say, Rooney who's fouled and scored the penalty, they wldn't have that much to say. Give a dog a bad name and hang him. But Ronaldo HAS changed his attitude a lot. Juz cos he's done it before, they've condemn him and totally overlook his capability and skills.
I think the footballing authorities ought to send Southgate for counselling. If not, his players will be trippling everyone down whenever they feel like it in situations when "we would all love to do that". Afterall, they have the green light from their manager. Disgraceful indeed.