Fifa Decline to Take Action Against Real

Fifa have announced that they will take no formal action against Real Madrid despite Manchester United's complaint over the Spanish club's courting of Cristiano Ronaldo.

United last week submitted a dossier recording the occasions on which Real have spoken publicly of their desire to sign Ronaldo. Fifa has indicated that no regulations have been broken by the Madrid giants, however, Spanish football's governing body has been asked to remind Real of their obligations regarding the transfer of players.

"We can confirm that we received last week a formal complaint from Manchester United related to the player Cristiano Ronaldo and the club Real Madrid," said a Fifa statement. "From the documentation received, no breach of contract appears to have occurred yet. Therefore, in accordance with the applicable practice, no kind of formal procedure has been opened by Fifa regarding this matter."

"The Spanish Football Federation has been informed of the complaint lodged by the English club and been asked to remind its member club Real Madrid about the potential legal consequences of a breach of contract without just cause during the protected period and of a possible inducement to such a breach of contract, as established by the Fifa regulations on the status and transfer of players."

Ronaldo, who is with the Portuguese squad at Euro 2008, said before the start of the tournament that he would be keen to join Real if they were willing to pay himself and United, "what they have been saying they will". United have been incensed by what they see as the calculated pursuit of their star player, but the Real president Ramón Calderón last week denied any impropriety.

"It's United's right [to complain] but we haven't done anything and we are not going to do anything. It's a matter between the player and his club," he said.