Verratti agent says Cristiano "pardoned", defends midfielder
Marco Verratti's agent, Mino Raiola, says the referee was guilty of double standards in PSG's Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
Marco Verratti's agent, Mino Raiola, has defended the midfielder over his sending-off for dissent in Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League exit to Real Madrid on Tuesday, and accused referee Felix Brych of double standards.
Verratti sent off as PSG are dumped out of Europe
Verratti has been heavily criticised after his furious protests to Brych earned him a second booking and left PSG a man down with nearly half an hour to play in the last-16 clash in Paris, which Real won 2-1 to ease to a 5-2 aggregate triumph.
"Cristiano Ronaldo protested openly and wasn't cautioned"
However, Raiola said on Wednesday: "It was a harsh decision. Until then, Marco had been one of the best players on the pitch. His complaints were born out of frustration. Cristiano Ronaldo protested openly and wasn't cautioned.
"It was just the frustration of player who wanted to help"
"Maybe he [Verratti] went a bit over the top, but it was just the frustration of a player who wanted to do everything possible to help. Ronaldo was guilty of blatant dissent several times but he was pardoned, even when he tried to kick Dani Alves."
