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Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Euro 2024, UEFA
Will Evans
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Euro 2024, UEFA
UEFA have confirmed their punishment for a pitch invader at Euro 2024 who took a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was during Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund that the young boy made his way onto the pitch and pulled out his phone.
Ronaldo, who is no stranger to pitch invaders, made sure the youngster got his photo before he was caught by stewards and removed from the stadium.
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Given his age, the boy received a lot of sympathy from onlookers who were just happy that he got to meet the star.
The snap went viral on social media and UEFA have since set out the punishment that the child will receive following the incident.
Whilst they would usually pursue a criminal charge, in this case, he will just be banned from all future matches at Euro 2024, as reported by The Express.
Their statement read: "Any incursion onto the pitch constitutes a breach of the stadium rules and will result in expulsion from the stadium, a ban from all tournament matches and the filing of a formal criminal complaint for trespass.
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"There is no criminal responsibility for under-12s, however the accompanying adult remains responsible for ensuring that child adheres to the stadium rules in accordance with the ticketing terms and conditions."
Given Ronaldo's stardom, it's no surprise that there's an increase in pitch invaders when the 39-year-old is on the field.
In Saturday's game, there were five pitch invaders during the second half, all seemingly trying to grab a picture with the Portuguese legend.
UEFA have insisted that they will reassess their security at the Euros to ensure players on the field remain safe from potential invaders.
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Portugal are seen as one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 and booked their spot in the Round of 16 with the win over Turkey.
They have several Premier League players in their squad and are managed by former Wigan and Everton boss Roberto Martinez.
If they are to go all the way then Ronaldo will play a key part. He playing in his fifth European Championships with his first appearance in the competition coming 20 years ago when his nation hosted it.
He captained the team to a shock victory in 2016, but can they do it again this time?