Star prevented from playing

Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos claimed that he was prevented from playing in Sunday's clash with Barcelona despite insisting he was fit.

The Brazilian has been ordered to rest since aggravating ligaments in his right knee during Real's Champions League match against Roma on October 24.

Real Madrid medical chief Alfonso del Corral explained that the defender will not be allowed to play until doctors are sure that he will not be in danger of causing further damage to his knee.

"Roberto Carlos didn't play because we felt that he was running a high risk of doing himself serious damage," del Corral said on today.

"During the past two months, he has aggravated the tendon in his right knee. If this injury evolves then he'll be in big trouble, that's why he has to rest."

Del Corral added that Roberto Carlos must wait until the inflammation to the tendon subsides before he can begin treatment and have given the player a provisional lay-off period of three weeks since the injury occurred.

This means that Roberto Carlos will not be in the side until November 14 at the earliest, his understudy Raúl Bravo will deputise in the meantime for league games at Zaragoza and possibly Sevilla.