Ronaldo wins damages over training ground texts claim

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Manchester United's Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday accepted undisclosed damages from a British newspaper, after it claimed he was fined for using his mobile phone during training.

London's High Court was told that the action was prompted by an article in The Sun tabloid in February which implied "wholly unprofessional and arrogant behaviour" on the part of the player.

Ronaldo's lawyer, Simon Smith, said the article wrongly claimed his client had broken club rules by taking his mobile phone onto to the training pitch and sent four text message, incensing his manager, Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson was said to have then fined the footballer 8,000 pounds (10,000 euros, 15,700 dollars), Smith added.

"The allegation was widely...