Real stand firm over release of Ronaldo for play-offs

The row over the fitness of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo shows no sign of coming to an end with Real Madrid sending medical documentation to the Portuguese FA to prove he is not fit to link up with the national team.

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Madrid star will not be fit for Portugal

Portugal face a crucial World Cup qualifying double header against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and were eager to have the FIFA World Player of the Year available to at least play some part in the tie.

But Real are still furious with Portugal after they played the winger from the start against Hungary a month ago. Ronaldo limped off early in the game and has not played since.

Last week, Ronaldo met with Professor Niek van Dijk and it was suggested the player will not feature again until December. But Portugal seem set on assessing his injury themselves.

A statement issued by Madrid to Spanish sports newspaper Marca read: "On Monday we sent the Portuguese federation all the medical evidence, from both our physician and (Dutch specialist) Niek van Dijk, which indicated that Ronaldo is injured.''

Real insist he will not be leaving Madrid to join the rest of the squad at their training camp in Obidos and have cited FIFA Article 29 on the Status and Transfer of Players which gives a player the right to be assessed by Portuguese federation medics in the country where his club is based.

He initially suffered the injury playing for Madrid against Marseille on September 30 in the Champions League.