Brazil's Veloso defends Ronaldo's walk on wild side

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian singing star Caetano Veloso defended disgraced footballer Ronaldo at a show in Rio de Janeiro, saying the AC Milan striker did not have to apologize to anyone over his embarrassing encounter with three transvestites in a Rio motel.

The incident last month in which Ronaldo went to the motel with three prostitutes only to find out they were transvestites has been the talk of Brazil.

The three-times former world player of the year has since given TV interviews to profess his shame but has also been mocked mercilessly on variety shows and in the media.

At the concert in Rio on Thursday night, Veloso, one of Brazil's most renowned musicians and an influential figure in his home country, played a rarely-performed 1982 song "Three Transvestites." He then followed up by praising Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo does not have to ask forgiveness. The intimate part is no one's business. Ronaldo's football is poetry and poetry must be respected," he told the audience.

"Ronaldo was right when he said he didn't want to pay because he was being threatened. This man is a star."

Ronaldo said after the run-in that the transvestites had tried to blackmail him. He said he had done something "really stupid" and feared his reputation has been ruined forever.

The 31-year-old, who scored both goals when Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final, is recovering from a knee injury that is expected to keep him out of football action for another seven months.

(Reporting by Angus MacSwan, Editing by Todd Benson and Kieran Murray)