Cristiano Ronaldo In Public Row With Italian Sports Minister Over COVID

Cristiano Ronaldo has become embroiled in a war of words with Italy's sports minister, after returning to Turin despite testing positive for Coronavirus whilst on international duty.

Ronaldo tested positive following Portugal's 0-0 draw with France in the Nations League on Sunday and he had to quarantine himself and miss Wednesday's game against Sweden.

The Juventus striker's time back home didn't last long though as he decided to leave Portugal to return to Italy in order to do his quarantine there and be able to play against Barcelona in the Champions League in 12 days time.

That annoyed Italy sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora who claimed Ronaldo had broken the rules. However the former Real Madrid star hit back.

"A gentlemen here in Italy, whose name I won't mention, said I didn't obey the protocol - that's simply a lie," he said in a post on social media.

"I followed all the protocols and I will continue to follow them, my conscience is clear.... Everything I did was authorised.

"They said I broke Italian law and this and that... it's all lies, I did everything properly.

"We did everything the right way -- leaving the (Portugal) team, in the air ambulance, arriving in Turin... I did not have contact with anyone."

However that wasn't the end of it as Spadafora then claimed the 'fame' of players should mean they 'set a good example,' saying, "The fame and skill of certain players does not entitle them to be arrogant, disrespectful to the institutions and to lie.

"On the contrary, the more well known you are, the more you should feel the responsibility of thinking before speaking and setting a good example.

"I'm not going to continue with this matter forever. I'm not talking about it again and I repeat my wish that everyone who has tested positive recovers quickly."

Despite her brother testing positive for the virus, Ronaldo's sister Katia took to Instagram this week to claim people had been 'taken in' by the virus, saying, "If Cristiano Ronaldo has to wake the world up, I have to say he really is a prophet from God. Thank you.

"I think thousands of people will believe in the pandemic, in the tests and in the measures that have been taken, just like me."

Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Nations League, Serie A, International Football, Portugal, Juventus, Champions League, France, Cristiano Ronaldo, Italy

Ryan Sidle

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