Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo has apologized for his actions during a recent encounter with a young soccer fan.
Asocial media videotaken last Saturday, April 9, shows Ronaldo, 37, knocking a cell phone out of a young fan’s hands following a disappointing loss for his team, Manchester United, to Everton. The defeat has likely ended any hopes that the U.K. soccer team had of qualifying for the Champions League.
The video of the post-game incident subsequently went viral, and local authorities confirmed an investigation into “reports of an assault” is underway,according to ESPN.
Ronaldo issued a public apology to the boy involved on Sunday.
“It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing,” Ronaldo wrote onInstagram. “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.”
Ronaldo added, “I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Tafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”
A rep for Ronaldo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Sarah Kellytold local U.K. news outlettheLiverpool Echothat her son Jake Harding, 14, was the fan involved in the interaction with Ronaldo.
“[Harding] filmed all the United players walking through. And then he lowered his phone because Ronaldo had pulled down his sock and his leg was bleeding. He lowered his phone to see what it was — he didn’t even speak,” said Kelly. She claimed, “Ronaldo then just walked past, with a terrible, terrible temper and smashed the phone out of my son’s hand and carried on walking.”
Kelly said her son, who has autism, has bruising to his hand and was distraught after the encounter: “He’s really upset about it and it’s completely put him off going to the game again. This is the first football game he’s been to and this has happened.”
The athlete has struggled offensively in his recentgames, only scoring in two of his previous 14 matches.
source: people.com
