Cristiano Ronaldo sees red at referee Cristiano Ronaldo has criticised referee Steve Bennett for his sending-off against Portsmouth and suggested that the incident may have been influenced by "prejudice". The Portuguese midfielder is serving a three-game ban after being dismissed during last week's 1-1 draw at Fratton Park after apparently motioning his head in the direction of Portsmouth's Richard Hughes. "I don't have a persecution complex, but what's strange is strange," said Ronaldo. "I didn't give a head-butt. I didn't do anything to get sent off. I'm not an aggressive player and the TV images show that I didn't want to do anything bad. Off you go: referee Steve Bennett gives Cristiano Ronaldo a straight red card for violent conduct "But when they want to do something bad to you they succeed. When someone wants to prejudice someone else they always arrange something to do that. But for now I want to think positively and concentrate on the Portuguese national team." Ronaldo's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was direct in his assessment of Bennett, saying that the referee "will have loved the opportunity to send him off again." Ferguson, though, did also say that Ronaldo had "only himself blame". "My take is he was provoked and he has fallen for it - you have to have a bit of calmness," said the United manager. Chelsea have already moved five points clear of United and the champions will not have Ronaldo available again until the match against Everton on Sept 15. "What most disturbs me in all this is that it will be my team that is greatly disadvantaged because I can't play in three games," said Ronaldo. "I feel down, especially as this season's start for Manchester United is not going as we hoped and I wanted to be able to turn the situation around. "I want to return to the team as quickly as possible to help Manchester United to start to make up the lost points. I don't like training without playing. God willing we will be champions again." Ronaldo is with the Portugal squad ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier against Armenia. United, meanwhile, are expected to find out today whether they will be forced to sell Gabriel Heinze to Liverpool. Ferguson and chief executive David Gill travelled to a Premier League arbitration tribunal yesterday to argue that the Argentine should not be allowed to join Liverpool. Heinze wants to move and claims he has a letter from United allowing him to leave if a club offered a fee of £6.8 million. Liverpool are prepared to meet that valuation but United say that they made it clear to Heinze that he would not be permitted to join one of their rivals for the Premier League title