Cristiano Ronaldo has been told off after he was spotted doing a 'private' training session with others inside a football stadium near his home in Madeira.
The Juventus star returned home at the beginning of March to visit his mother who had been ill, he had yet to fly back to Turin when teammate Daniele Rugani tested positive for the virus and the forward decided to stay in the Portuguese island.
Earlier in the week he was photographed, along with several others, at CD Nacional's Madeira Stadium going through a private session, in which he can be seen taking shots at a keeper and standing around with others,
The decision to train amidst the pandemic led to a warning from officials about breaking social distancing. "Ronaldo has no special permission to train," local head of health, Pedro Ramos, said.
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"Cristiano Ronaldo has the right to train as long as he respects the rules like all citizens: there is no privilege."
However Ramos also cleared the five time Ballon d'Or winner of any wrongdoing, adding, "All citizens can leave the house and do so, as long as they do not cause gatherings and maintain a safe distance during the exercise. Therefore, Ronaldo did what we have seen.
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"There was no special authorisation because we are all the same, we are all facing the same pandemic.
"The best player in the world must use his image to set an example, but Cristiano seems to me to have done just a few minutes of exercise and, therefore, there is no harm in the world.
"I would not like it to be said that it is trivialisation, because we are all responsible.
"All Madeirans are complying with the rules of the regional government. And those who do not know that the forces of authority can exercise their power."
Serie A moved behind closed doors before the eventual suspension of the league with Ronaldo and Juve managing to go back to the top of the table with their win against Inter in the Derby d'Italia just before everything paused.
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Lockdown measures in Italy have been much more severe than in England with the country a couple of weeks ahead in the effects of the pandemic.
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