Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to escape censure from the Football Association despite saying that referee Steve Bennett "loved the opportunity" to send off Cristiano Ronaldo in last night's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth.

FA officials have already studied reports and comments from the game and a spokesman said they were "unlikely" to take the matter further - except maybe to write to Ferguson asking him to explain his words.

Ronaldo was dismissed at Fratton Park for aiming a head-butt at Richard Hughes six minutes after the defender pushed him in the chest during a goalmouth melee.

Ferguson says Ronaldo fell for Portsmouth's "intimidation tactics" and admitted the Portuguese international had only himself to blame for incurring a three-match ban - which includes Sunday's Manchester derby at City.

However, he also said: "Steve Bennett sent him off at City [in January 2006] and will have loved the opportunity to send him off again." Bennett was in charge of Chelsea's win over United in this year's FA Cup final and has had several run-ins with Ferguson.

The United manager added: "I've looked at the replay a few times now and there's nothing conclusive - you can't really see anything, but I believe he was provoked and he fell for it.

"He was surprised about the decision but really he's only himself to blame and now we're going to miss him for three games. It's a big blow."

Hughes admitted there was "no bruising" from the incident but insisted he had no thoughts of trying to get his opponent dismissed - just a minute after Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari had been sent off for a second yellow card.

The Scotland international said: "You could see by my reaction that it was not the case but I felt something on the side of my head more than him just leaning in towards me.

"As usual at a corner there was some pushing and shoving but Ronaldo went into me first and then seemed to swing his leg. I thought that if he was going to try to shove me to get a run on me I would just get tighter and we went head to head as footballers often do for some reason.

"I definitely felt something more than just him leaning his head on mine, though. Whether he meant it I'm not sure but the referee was right there and saw fit to show him a red card."