Cristiano Ronaldo charged for taunting Benifica fans

Cristiano Ronaldo has been charged with misconduct by UEFA for taunting Benifica fans in a Dec. 7 match at Lisbon's Stadium of Light. Benfica defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the Champions League game, eliminating the English club from the first stage of Europe's top club tournament.

European soccer's governing body will hold a hearing in the case on Feb. 2. The Portuguese club lodged a complaint after video replays showed Ronaldo making an obscene gesture, pointing his middle finger at Benfica fans, as he left the field for a substitute in the 67th minute.

A Portugal international who played for Benfica's crosstown rival, Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo was loudly jeered by the 60,000 sellout every time he touched the ball at the Stadium of Light. Ronaldo just completed a three-match ban from the English Football Associaton, after he was sent off on a red card in a 3-1 loss the Manchester City. He is available for United's Sunday match against Wolves in the fourth round of the FA Cup, reports the AP. I.L.