Cristiano Ronaldo 'lucky' to avoid harm after being confronted by selfie-seekers, coach says

 

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo is fortunate to have escaped unharmed after being confronted by four fans seeking selfies during a European Championship match on Saturday, according to Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.

The series of security breaches occurred in the second half of Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Turkey at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.

In the 69th minute, a young fan evaded security to reach Ronaldo for a selfie, which the star obligingly posed for. However, Ronaldo was visibly irritated when two more fans attempted the same in the final minutes of the game. After the final whistle, another person in a red Portugal jersey approached Ronaldo for a photo.

As Ronaldo walked off the field with his teammates, security managed to restrain two more fans trying to approach him.

"It is a concern," Martinez said. "Today we were lucky that the fans' intentions were good.

"While we appreciate fans recognizing their idols, this was a very difficult situation. If the intentions were harmful, the players would be exposed. This should not happen on a football pitch."

Martinez emphasized the need to discourage such behavior.

"It’s not the right way; fans won’t gain anything from it," Martinez added. "It only leads to stricter security measures in the future and unnecessary exposure for the players."

Ronaldo’s teammate, Bernardo Silva, who also scored in the match, expressed that he wasn't overly worried about the fans who entered the field.

"It’s just a bit annoying to have the game interrupted," Silva said. "That’s the price of being highly recognized in football. Personally, I didn’t feel in danger."