Keeper Denies Ronaldo Threat

Uefa is to investigate allegations that Belgium's goalkeeper, Stijn Stijnen, threatened to harm Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo during tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifier against Portugal.

Stijnen was quoted in the Belgian regional newspaper Gazet Van Antwerpen on Monday as saying : "After two minutes we will normally have to attack Ronaldo so much that he will have to leave the pitch." The Club Bruges goalkeeper says he was misquoted.

A spokesman for European football's governing body said: "We have received a complaint from the Portuguese FA and we will start an investigation into the matter. We will be contacting the Belgian FA in due course but the investigation will not be completed by the time of the match."

A spokesman for the Belgian FA said yesterday that the matter was over as far as it was concerned but it would co-operate fully with Uefa. "I spoke to the Portuguese FA and sent them a statement from Stijnen along with a copy of the newspapers today in which he denies he said what the paper wrote on Monday," Nicolas Cornu told Reuters.

According to Cornu, Stijnen said Belgium "must be aggressive from the start" and described the encounter as a "real battle" but did not pick out Ronaldo as a target of any abuse. Stijnen will remain available for selection for Saturday's Group A qualifier, Cornu said.

Cardiff City have signed Luton's Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney on loan for the rest of the season. The 26-year-old will sign a three-year contract at the end of the season when his Luton deal expires and will make his Cardiff debut in the crucial league match against Sunderland at Ninian Park on March 31.

Feeney will initially replace the Championship's leading scorer, Michael Chopra, who will be out of action for up to a month after straining a hamstring in the 3-1 defeat by Derby last Saturday.

It is understood Cardiff have paid £75,000 for Feeney and will give Luton another £50,000 if they gain promotion. Feeney is in the Northern Ireland squad to face Liechtenstein in tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifier.