Portugal savages Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card against Ireland and the way he walked off the field have drawn fierce criticism in Portugal. The sports daily A Bola published a sharply worded editorial titled “Cristiano should be ashamed,” written by Hugo Vasconcelos.

Cristiano’s pathetic actions against Ireland

The editorial argued that “what the Portuguese captain did was pathetic.” It added that the issue wasn’t just the aggression that led to the red card, “because losing your temper in a moment of frustration can happen, even if it shouldn’t.” What angered the paper most was the aftermath. It described “the crying, as if the Irish player who took the elbow was faking,” the “head shaking, as if he didn’t understand what was happening,” and the applause toward the crowd “as if the fans were to blame for the red card and not him.”

Ronaldo “created an atmosphere he couldn’t control”

The paper also pointed out that “Cristiano Ronaldo is 40 years old.” It criticized his behavior before the match too, saying that in Wednesday’s press conference he “devoted himself to provoking his rivals, the Irish coach and the crowd.” According to the editorial, “he created an atmosphere he couldn’t control.” The piece concluded that “he made a mistake,” and that “the least he could do is apologize, but what he should really do is feel ashamed.”

Ireland stunned by Cristiano Ronaldo drama

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who exchanged words with Ronaldo as he walked off, responded with sarcasm to Ronaldo’s claim that the coach contributed to a hostile atmosphere. “He congratulated me for pressuring the referee,” Hallgrimsson said. “It was his action on the field that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me, unless I distracted him.”

Asked if he spoke with Ronaldo after the match, Hallgrimsson said he didn’t. “No, I think we talked enough when he left the field,” he said. “There was nothing to talk about. It was just a moment of some nonsense on his part, I would say.”

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