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Benfica report Ronaldo for gesture
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LISBON, Portugal -- Benfica filed a formal complaint to UEFA on Friday against Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo over his apparent obscene gesture to the crowd during the Champions League game in the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. Ronaldo raised his middle finger and spat at fans as he was substituted in the 67th minute of his side's 2-1 defeat, Benfica spokesman Carlos Garcia said. "We couldn't let this pass, we had to protect the honor of Benfica fans," he added. Garcia said television pictures captured the incident. Portuguese newspapers also published photographs of Ronaldo making the hand gesture. Ronaldo, a Portuguese international who once played for Benfica's crosstown rival Sporting Lisbon, was loudly jeered by members of the 60,000-strong crowd. After a lackluster performance, he was replaced by Korean Ji-Sung Park. Ronaldo refused to explain his actions after the match, which knocked the Red Devils out of the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in a decade. "I felt the public was a bit unfriendly but that is normal, I was expecting it so I don't have to justify anything, I tried to play well but wasn't able to, there's always next time," he told reporters after the game. Ronaldo now faces the prospect of being handed a fine and a one-game ban by UEFA if the European football body decides to punish him for his actions. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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