Cristiano Ronaldo has won substantial damages from the Daily Telegraph after settling a libel case over false claims that he was putting an injured ankle at risk by partying in a Los Angeles nightclub while a Manchester United player.



The July 2008 story entitled ‘Ronaldo back in the limelight‘ alleged that the player had arrived in LA for an awards ceremony but ”headed straight for” a Hollywood nightclub where he threw his crutches to one side in order to dance with four models before they were served with ”£10,000 worth of Cristal champagne.”



The Portuguese star’s solicitor Allan Dunlavy successfully argued that the false accusations caused embarrassment, offence and distress to the player, and that he was right to be concerned.



”The truth is that these events did not happen and the claimant did not behave unprofessionally,” Dunlavy said.



”The claimant was in Los Angeles, having gone there on holiday in the knowledge and with the advance permission of his club, his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, his surgeon and his physio, and while he did attend the nightclub in question, he did not drink any alcohol at all whilst there, nor at any time whilst in Los Angeles.



”He does not, as a rule, drink alcohol because he takes his health, fitness and recovery from injury very seriously.



”Nor did he put his crutches down to take to the dance floor despite the risk to his injured ankle.”



Link:
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011090175879