Sir Alex Ferguson believes Premier League match officials see Cristiano Ronaldo as an easy target.
The Manchester United winger has fallen under the spotlight once again this week, although it is not his ability with the ball which has come into question.
The Portuguese superstar still has a reputation for going to ground too easily, with previous misdemeanours doing him no favours in the eyes of Premier League referees.
He was cautioned for an apparent dive under a Ledley King challenge in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, while Newcastle defender Steven Taylor escaped punishment for catching him with a flailing arm in a top-flight contest at St James' Park in midweek.
On both occasions the United man has had good cause to feel wronged, with the officials concerned doing him few favours in the eyes of the public and his opponents.
His Old Trafford boss feels these incidents are just the latest in a long line of similar decisions, with Ronaldo increasingly singled out for unfair treatment by those charged with the duty of protecting him from over-zealous defending.
"Ronaldo is an easy target for the referees," Ferguson told MUTV.
"It is easy to give decisions against him because he is such a great player and he is so celebrated.
"When he is away from home every crowd boos him, so he has to handle that. But it is not helping him."
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