The two players clashed repeatedly during the first half and seemed on the verge of blows at one stage.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, accused Pogatetz of grabbing Ronaldo around the neck. And his counterpart Gareth Southgate admitted the row continued into the tunnel at half-time.
"It seemed as though Pogatetz grabbed him around the neck,'' said Ferguson. "That happens in penalty boxes all the time. We've had referees coming to meet the players a couple of years ago and they said it would be stamped out with one warning and then a red card. But nothing ever happens.''
As the players jogged off at the break, Pogatetz pushed his forehead dangerously close to Ronaldo's and the dispute intensified in the tunnel.
"I heard a lot of noise and finger-pointing but I don't think there was anything in it,'' said Southgate. "The referee and his assistants seemed pretty comfortable with it and they were in the tunnel. When teams are defending from corners, there will be contact.''
This is the latest in a series of incidents involving Ronaldo, who seems increasingly likely to react when fouled.
Ronaldo has clashed with Celtic's Scott Brown, Tottenham's Michael Dawson and Andy Wilkinson, of Stoke City, in recent weeks. He also earned a red card for two bookable offences against Manchester City.
Pogatetz too has history with United. He was sent-off in the Carling Cup tie between the sides earlier this season after a knee-high lunge on Rodrigo Possebon.
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