ACCORDING to a report by Mail Online, Sir Alex Ferguson believes that harsh tackles on his star winger is fast becoming a 'tactic' of opposing teams and that referees aren't doing enough to prevent it.

'The systematic fouling on Ronaldo is what is happening now,' declares Sir Alex.

But is the supposed lack of protection and constant barrage of fouls on Ronaldo through no fault of his own?

I beg to differ. The Portuguese international antagonises referees, players and fans, and may well soon irritate his own team-mates.

Here's how and why.

FERGIE'S UNTOUCHABLE BOY

YES, FERGUSON doesn't want anyone touching his Ronaldo. Why else would he call for more protection for his star, who incidentally, isn't even the most fouled player in the league.

According to the very same Mail Online report, Ronaldo is tied at third spot for the 'Most Fouled Player' title alongside Amr Zaki from Wigan and Jonas Gutierrez from Newcastle.

Kevin Davies and Valon Behrami take the first and second spot respectively.

In fact, statistics show that there has been a decreasing number of fouls on Ronaldo in the past three years.

So why then should Ronaldo be a special case? Because both he and his manager would have you believe he is a special player.

It is that same arrogance that is part of his style of play, which also makes both of them believe that anyone who brings Ronaldo down is fouling him.

RONALDO BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN

THAT brings us to how often the Fifa World Player of the Year falls to the ground.

Standing at a towering 1.83m and weighing 75kg, he is taller than Wayne Rooney and heavier than Carlos Tevez.

Yet he is fouled more often, and seems to fall more often than both Rooney and Tevez.

Weird? Henrik Larsson would think so. Recently speaking out against the United man, Larsson, who had a short stint at United, basically labelled Ronaldo a diver.

Clearly a couple of referees share that same view, as Ronaldo has been booked for diving twice this campaign.

RONALDO'S REVENGE

WHETHER brought down by others or by his own two feet, a grounded Ronaldo is not a happy Ronaldo.

I can count four times this season Ronaldo has retaliated at whoever he believed brought him down.

The two-footed challenge on Danny Murphy, the little flick on David Dunne, the stomping on Andy Wilkinson's foot and then spitting at Robbie Savage.

The Portuguese star is seemingly growing more daring and clearly more creative in his reactions.

FREE-KICK FLAGGING

BUT IT'S not always dark clouds for Ronaldo. He does have decisions going his way.

In fact, his team has accumulated 18 direct free-kicks in the last eight games. And guess how many of them Ronaldo flagged? 17. His goal returns from those 17 free-kicks? Just one.

Whether he had been granted Ferguson's permission or not, I think it's high time Ronaldo hangs up his free-kick boots for a while.

Even if he's not angering the fans with those failed attempts, I wouldn't put it past some of his team-mates to be ruing those wasted chances, silently wondering if things would have been different had they been the ones taking the kicks instead.

ABILITY TO ANNOY

AND IT doesn't play towards Ronaldo's likeability that the United No. 7 has an uncanny ability to annoy others. In fact, he's got it down to a system.

First comes the look, the famous incredulous look that etches on his face when a foul doesn't go his way.

Next the begging, the snivelling, grovelling plea he offers with his hands in prayer-like unison, hoping that his innocent puppy-dog act can turn the decision in his favour.

Finally, the abandonment. This is the part where he throws up his hands in the air, basically saying, 'I give up, nobody loves Ronaldo'.

Don't be silly, Ronnie.

Clearly Sir Alex does.