Ronaldo apologises for throwing bottle into crowd

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo apologised for throwing a plastic water battle into the crowd after being abused by fans during his side's narrow 1-0 home win over Malaga on Sunday.

The incident occurred when the Brazilian international was being substituted five minutes from time and had to endure a barrage of whistles as he walked off the field.

"When I got close to the bench two young lads shouted racist insults against me and my mother. I reacted in the wrong way, but the insults were very bad... It was nothing, really," Ronaldo told reporters after the game.

March has not been a good month for Ronaldo, who was sent off during Real's Champions League defeat by Juventus in Turin 13 days ago.

As Real's challenge for the Primera Liga title has faltered, fans have taken out their frustration on Ronaldo, who has not scored in nine league outings. Ronaldo is his club's leading scorer with 12 league goals.

¤ Sevilla defender Javi Navarro has apologised for the tackle that put Real Mallorca's Venezuelan international Juan Fernando Arango into hospital on Sunday. "I was simply trying to protect myself in a head on collision," Navarro said. "I am really sorry for what happened." Arango and Navarro went for a 50-50 ball in the 39th minute of Sunday's Primera Liga game, a 1-0 away win for Sevilla, but as the players collided Navarro's raised elbow connected with Arango's face, knocking him unconscious. Doctors yesterday said that Arango was in a stable condition and has regained consciousness. The player has a broken right cheek bone.