Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: UEFA, Euro 2024, Portugal, Football, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Martinez
Ryan Smart
Topics: UEFA, Euro 2024, Portugal, Football, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Martinez
UEFA are making a major change to their Euro 2024 protocols after a series of pitch invasion incidents that largely targeted Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal defeated Turkey 3-0 in Dortmund on Saturday through goals from Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and a catastrophic own goal.
Ronaldo, who is playing in his record-setting sixth European Championship, did not get on the scoresheet but did square the ball for Fernandes to tap into an empty net.
Portugal have won both of their games, meaning Roberto Martinez's side have assured automatic qualification for the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
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But some of their post-match focus was directed away from the football and towards a number of pitch invasions during the match.
Five spectators, at five different intervals, ran onto the pitch during the game, with some of the fans running towards Ronaldo in an attempt to get a photo.
One fan ran across the six-yard box while Portugal defended a corner, while another successfully invaded the pitch at full-time.
Stewards did successfully apprehend a sixth fan from making it towards Ronaldo, but one security official slipped and fell into Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos, who fell to the ground as a result.
Martinez said that, although 'the intentions of the fans were good', he was 'concerned' about the pitch invasions, adding: "You must understand there's a difficult moment if their intentions are wrong.
"We need to be careful. It shouldn't happen - there's a lot of security. We should give a message to the fans also because it's not the right way. It's not good to have players so exposed on the pitch."
Now, UEFA have decided to take strong action by providing additional security for the remaining Euro 2024 fixtures.
An official statement provided to Sky News reads: "Safety and security in the stadium, on the pitch and at team facilities are the ultimate priority for UEFA, DFB and Euro 2024.
"To this end, additional security measures will be deployed in the stadiums to further meet the requirements of the tournament, and to prevent such incidents.
"For reasons of security, we cannot comment further on specific measures.
"As a reminder, 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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