Rooney responded, however, by saying he was "disappointed" by Ronaldo encouraging to the referee to take action against him – and insisted his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho was not intentional.

"When the referee produced the red card I was gobsmacked," said Rooney.

"I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed that he chose to get involved."

But referee Horacio Elizondo has confirmed he sent off Rooney for stamping on Carvalho, stressing he had not been influenced by Ronaldo's antics.

He said: "It was violent play, therefore he got a red card. It was a clear sending off, so I didn't react to the Portuguese players.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson came to the dressing room afterwards and congratulated me for an excellent performance and said that I was

right to send off Rooney because it was rough play."