Dortmund, Germany
The Euro 2024 game between Portugal and Turkiye on Saturday (June 22) was stopped multiple times due to Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo's fans. The 39-year-old's fans came on the pitch four times during the game and twice after the final whistle, prompting referee to delay the game.
In the first incident, a boy not older than 10 came running onto the pitch with a phone. The former Real Madrid player posed and smiled with his young fan in the 70th minute of the game. Watch the incident below:
La réaction de Ronaldo ??… pic.twitter.com/ZA4zmFgiZG
— ????????? (@vista_010) June 22, 2024
A similar incident happened 15 minutes later but this time Ronaldo waved him away and security personal got to the fan, a teenaged boy, before he could reach the footballer.
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With the game in stoppage time, two more adult fans ran onto the pitch with phones but security once again stopped them. After the game was over, two more supporters tried to get to Ronaldo.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was understanding of fans' intentions but didn't like the game being stopped.
"It is a concern, but today we were lucky as intention of the fans were good," he said. "The fans recognise big stars and icons but there is a very difficult situation if their intensions are wrong and players are exposed.
"It shouldn't happen. There is lots of security, so it shouldn't happen. Maybe there is a message to that fans, that this is not the right way [to behave]. The message is that it could get worse for the future and it's not good that the players are so exposed on the pitch," he further said.
As for the game, Portugal won the battle 3-0, thanks to a goal each by Bernardo Silva in 21st minute and Bruno Fernandes in 56th minute. The third one was a self goal by Turkiye's Samet Akaydin in 28th minute of the game.