Queiroz 'respects' Real stance on injured Ronaldo

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz says he "respects" Real Madrid's decision to prevent injured star Cristiano Ronaldo from travelling to watch his country's final World Cup qualifier against Malta.

"If that is their decision it will be based on medical advice and we must respect that," Queiroz said on Tuesday.

"It's probably because Real Madrid want to guarantee continuity in his treatment."

Queiroz added that he had not been officially told by the Spanish club that Ronaldo had been banned from attending the match, which Portugal must win to secure a place in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo, the reigning European and World Player of the Year, sprained his ankle during Real's Champions League group stage win at home to Marseille last month.

He started Portugal's 3-0 victory over Hungary last Saturday but was forced off before the half-hour mark and is likely to be out for between three and four weeks.

TVE television and sports daily AS both reported on Monday that Real had insisted that Ronaldo, the Portuguese captain, remain in Madrid.

"The important thing is recuperating perfectly to get over the problem," the player himself said on Real's website - though he did earlier ask for permission to make the trip.