Portugal manager expresses ‘concern’ after several fans invade pitch at Euro 2024 to take a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo
CNN
Even though Portugal defeated Turkey 3-0 and qualified for the knockout stages at Euro 2024 on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo still cut a frustrated figure at times as several fans invaded the pitch to try to take selfies with him.
Even though Portugal defeated Turkey 3-0 and qualified for the knockout stages at Euro 2024 on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo still cut a frustrated figure at times as several fans invaded the pitch to try to take selfies with him. So many breaches of stadium security at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, Germany marked a “concern” for Portugal manager Roberto Martínez who told reporters that “we were lucky that the intentions of fans were good.” “We all love a fan who recognizes the big stars and the big icons in their lives … but there are very, very difficult moments if those intentions are wrong – the players are exposed and we need to be careful with that,” he added. “I don’t think that should happen on a football pitch. There is a lot of security and a lot of protection and I don’t think that should happen. And probably we should give a message to the fans that it’s not right way; you’re not going to get anything out of it and probably the measures will get worse for the future.” UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, told CNN that safety and security were its “ultimate priority” and that “additional safety measures will be deployed in the stadiums to further meet the requirements of the tournament, and to prevent such incidents.” At first, a young pitch invader made his way across to Ronaldo who happily posed for a selfie and grinned as the boy tried to sprint away from the stewards who eventually led him off.