Boateng disciplined for rant at Ronaldo

The Middlesbrough captain, George Boateng, has been disciplined by his club after warning the Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo that his behaviour on the pitch could attract foul play.

The Dutchman spoke in the wake of Boro's FA Cup sixth-round replay defeat at Old Trafford in which the Portugal international won his side a disputed penalty. The midfielder James Morrison was sent off for hitting out at the winger late in the game and Boateng said of Ronaldo, "one day, someone will hurt him properly".

The United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was angry that the Teessiders' captain had not been brought before the Football Association to explain his comments. His Boro counterpart, Gareth Southgate, said yesterday that he had not let the matter pass, but did not go into detail.

"I do not think the comments George made were correct and we have dealt with that," Southgate said. "Obviously, I prefer to deal with those things internally than have the Football Association deal with them. It is something we have spoken about and it has been dealt with."

Ronaldo's compatriot, Abel Xavier, has admitted that the stigma of his drugs ban is still with him. The 34-year-old defender is rebuilding his career at the Riverside Stadium after serving a 12-month ban handed out by Fifa, the sport's world governing body, following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.

Xavier denied the charge from the outset, and he said the label he has been given still hurts.

"It is always disappointing when people keep saying 'drugs cheat Abel Xavier'," he said. "It is very harsh. But of course the most important thing is when you know what you are doing and how you are conducting yourself, the pitch does not lie.

"You do not need to have one year, two years, 10 years at a club to show commitment to the cause. You show commitment in the way you perform and in the way you act, in the way you approach things, in the way you conduct yourself in your lifestyle. That is how to be a professional.

"It is the past. Everybody realised it was difficult, but sometimes in difficulty in football or in life, you must have a reaction.

"For me, it was a focus - my life depends on football, that is the reason I am here. Of course, you are going through all the emotions, that is natural, it is human. But when you feel you are the victim of a big injustice, the only thing is to bounce back.

"For that reason, I feel proud of what I have done. I feel proud I have shown my kids that is how you must react when things go against you, and I am pleased with my football.

"The most important thing for me is each day, I wake up in the morning with the will and the desire to keep playing football. For me, that is enough."

Xavier tested positive after Boro's 0-0 Uefa Cup draw at Skoda Xanthi in September 2005. But after completing his suspension, the Teessiders gave him the chance to prove himself once again, and he says he will always be thankful for that opportunity.

He said: "When Middlesbrough opened the door for me to come back, they knew the person they had, they knew the player they had.

"Of course, it was dependent on me proving that giving me the chance to come back was correct for the club. I think I have done that. I have proved that and I am very pleased with that.

"Every day and every game I play, I play with that feeling in my head because whatever happens with me and with my future, I will always be grateful to Middlesbrough Football Club for opening the door for me to come back."