The Football Association announced on Wednesday that Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a two-game ban and fined £50,000 ($60,000, 58,000 euros) for knocking a phone out of a teenage fan’s hand at Everton.
Following the Red Devils’ 1-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Park on April 9, Ronaldo, who was released by Manchester United on Tuesday, got into an altercation with a 14-year-old youngster.
Merseyside Police issued him a warning, and the FA also charged Portugal forward with improper behavior.
Now an independent panel has handed down a suspension and a fine.
The 37-year-old is scheduled to play in Portugal’s opening match against Ghana on Thursday, but the ban does not apply in Qatar, where Ronaldo is now competing in the World Cup. The ban will be transferred when Ronaldo joins a new club in any nation.
For violating FA regulation E3, Cristiano Ronaldo received a two-match ban, a £50,000 fine, and a warning about his future behavior, according to a statement from the organization that oversees English football.
“The forward acknowledged that his behavior following the conclusion of Manchester United FC’s Premier League game against Everton FC on Saturday, April 9, 2022, was improper.
“During a subsequent hearing, an independent regulatory committee determined that his conduct was both improper and violent, and issued severe sanctions.”
Ronaldo requested a personal hearing in a bid to avoid a suspension.
During the hearing, held via Microsoft Teams on November 8, Ronaldo said he had “legitimate concern… for his own physical safety and well-being and leaving the field of play” after approaching the tunnel where Everton fans were gathering.
The panel, however, said Ronaldo s conduct was an “act born of frustration and annoyance rather than fear or concern for his wellbeing”, but they also rejected the FA s bid to have him banned for three games.
