Wayne Rooney has attempted to end any remaining doubt that he and Cristiano Ronaldo have had a falling out.

The 20-year-old Reds forward was sent off in England's quarter final defeat against Portugal for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho.

Ronaldo protested to the referee after the incident had taken place, but the Portuguese winger is adamant he wasn't trying to get Rooney sent off.

In a statement, Rooney said he was "gobsmacked" to have been sent off, but bears no grudge against his United team-mate.

"I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Carvalho," said Rooney. "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed he chose to get involved."

Referee Horacio Elizondo said Ronaldo didn't influence his decision to show Rooney a red card.

"It was violent play and therefore he got a red card," he told The Times. "People can say what they want [about Ronaldo] but this had absolutely no influence. For me it was a clear red card."

Rooney admitted his disappointment at being sent off in a World Cup, but also feels his honest style of play has been called into question.

"When the referee produced the red card I was amazed - gobsmacked," he said. "Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed to have been sent off in a World Cup finals match for England.

"I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time that what happened didn't warrant a red card. If anything, I feel we should have had a free-kick for the fouls committed on me during the same incident.

"If you ask any player - and indeed almost any fan - they will tell you that I am straight and honest in the way I play. From what I've seen in the World Cup, most players would have gone to ground at the slightest contact but my only thought then was to keep possession for England."

He paid tribute to rest of his team-mates for holding out and taking the game to penalties.

"I thought the England lads were awesome after I went off and the effort they put in was amazing," he said. "Truly if there was any justice England would now be preparing for a World Cup semi-final. Sadly, however, that is not to be in 2006."

Report by Ben Hibbs.