The Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has denied press reports that he and Cristiano Ronaldo had an angry confrontation in the players' tunnel at half-time during last night's 2–1 defeat to Manchester United at St James' Park.

"There was no bust-up with Ronaldo," Taylor told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. "I shook hands with him at the end of the game." Ronaldo was reported to have approached Taylor in the tunnel after the Newcastle player tackled him just before the end of the first half, calling him "a rubbish footballer", to which Taylor is said to have replied: "At least I'm not ugly."

There has been widespread confusion over the incident, with some reports claiming that Rio Ferdinand stepped in to break up an argument, others that Ferdinand himself was the agitator and others still that the row was between Taylor and Wayne Rooney.

The FA has confirmed that it will take no further action against Taylor for either his tackle on Ronaldo or any incidents that occurred off the pitch.

The referee, Steve Bennett, said in his report that Taylor was booked for his subsequent challenge on Michael Carrick, not on Ronaldo. Having reviewed the incident, Bennett told the FA he would have also booked Taylor for the tackle on Ronaldo and thus sent him off. However, Fifa regulations state the FA cannot change punishments that would involve two yellow cards rather than a single red.

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had said after the game that Taylor would face further punishment. "I don't think he is out of trouble," Ferguson said. "Something will be done there because it was two offences."

Ferguson's observation was accurate but because Bennett views both as cautionable crimes and missed the first one when it happened, Taylor will not face an FA disciplinary hearing.