By Sulaimon Jamiu
Manchester United ace, Cristiano Ronaldo is under fire, after a mum claims that he “assaulted” and “bruised” her 14-year-old son by swiping his mobile phone out of his hand at full-time of Everton’s game against Manchester United.
Sarah Kelly, from Upton, took her son Jake Harding to Goodison Park on Saturday to watch his beloved Blues for the first time. He saw Everton claim a crucial 1-0 victory, thanks to a first-half goal from Anthony Gordon.
Jake and Sarah sat in the Park End, meaning that they were near the away side as the players left the pitch to return to the dressing room.
Footage circulating on social media shows Ronaldo appearing to knock an object, suggested to be a mobile phone, out of someone’s hand as the Portuguese striker and his teammates made their way back to their dressing room, located in the car park of Everton’s Park End stand following the full-time whistle.
Sarah told the ECHO that the phone belonged to her son Jake, and Ronaldo “assaulted” him, bruising his hand, by knocking the object to the floor.
She said: “At full-time the Man United players started walking off. We were in the Park End so we were right by the tunnel where they came walking past – my son was there videoing them all.
“He 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.
“Ronaldo then just walked past, with a terrible, terrible temper and smashed the phone out of my son’s hand and carried on walking”, she said.
She said, “He’s an idol. Yes, he’s not from Everton and you like who you like, but Ronaldo’s a big player.
“I’d understand if Jake was waving it in his face but he wasn’t near his face, it was down by the floor checking his injury.”
On Instagram shortly before the midnight on Saturday night, Ronaldo apologised for his action and invited the assaulted fan to watch a game at Old Trafford.
“It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing. Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game. I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship,” he wrote.
