World Cup 2010: Portugal in Ronaldo yellow card appeal

Highlights - Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal

Portugal have appealed against the yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo during their 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast.

Ronaldo was booked after an altercation with Ivorian defender Guy-Roland Demel, who tackled him on the edge of the penalty area in the 21st minute.

The Portuguese captain complained to referee Jorge Larrionda, who responded by showing both players a yellow card.

Portugal have asked Fifa to rescind the booking as there were no grounds for the disciplinary sanction.

The Portugal Football Federation added Ronaldo was "pushed and insulted" by opposition players but walked away. It claimed there was a "disparity" in the referee's criteria.

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Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Deco has clarified comments made following Tuesday's Group G opener in Johannesburg.

Deco, who was substituted midway through the second-half, called coach Carlos Queiroz's tactics after the game "strange" and "not as good as they might have been."

But in a statement posted on the Portuguese Football Federation's website on Wednesday, Deco says he expressed his opinions "in the heat of the moment" and had not intended to question Queiroz's leadership.

"The strange thing is, he moved me to the right flank. I'm not a winger," Deco said in a post-match interview.

"We weren't playing great but I'm sure we were improving."

Ronaldo calls for more ref protection

He later added: "The substitutions weren't as good as they might have been, but the coach makes the calls."

But Deco said in his statement that he was feeling frustrated when he made the remarks, after not being able to help the team.

"I want to make clear that I did not, and do not, have any problem with the coach and it was never my intention to question the leadership and decision-making of Carlos Queiroz," stated Deco.

Portugal's final group game is against North Korea in Cape Town on Monday 21 June.