DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo ought to take into account himself fortunate to have come to no hurt after being confronted on the sector by 4 supporters who wished selfies throughout a European Championship match on Saturday, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez mentioned.
The alarming string of safety breaches occurred within the second half of Portugal’s 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.
Ronaldo was joyful to pose for a selfie with a younger fan who evaded stewards to get on the sector within the 69th minute earlier than whipping out his cellular phone.
Nonetheless, Ronaldo was clearly sad when two extra folks tried to do the identical within the ultimate minutes of the sport. Then one other individual — carrying a crimson Portugal jersey — obtained near the 39-year-old striker for {a photograph} moments after the ultimate whistle.
Two extra folks then tried to confront Ronaldo as he walked off the sector together with his teammates however had been held again by safety on these events.
“It’s a concern,” Martinez mentioned, “as a result of as we speak we had been fortunate that the intentions of the followers had been good.
“All of us love a fan that acknowledges the large stars and the large icons of their minds. All of us agree with that. However you possibly can perceive it was a really, very tough second — if these intentions are mistaken, the gamers are uncovered and we must be cautious with that. I don’t suppose that ought to occur on a soccer pitch.”
Martinez mentioned it was necessary to ship a message to followers that this conduct was not acceptable.
“It’s not the precise method, you’re not going to get something out of it,” Martinez added. “And what you do might be the measures worsen for the longer term.
“It’s not good to get the gamers so uncovered when you might have folks working on the pitch.”
Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo’s teammate and a scorer towards Turkey, mentioned he was “not likely involved” concerning the supporters who obtained on the sector.
“It’s only a bit annoying by way of having to cease the sport as a result of a fan enters the pitch,” Silva mentioned. “That’s the value you pay for being so acknowledged on the earth of soccer.
“When it comes to feeling in peril, no. Not me personally.”
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024