Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible act of sportsmanship has won hearts all around the globe. On Monday, the Portuguese superstar urged the referee to reverse a wrong penalty decision during his side Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League encounter against Persepolis. In a remarkable display of honesty, Ronaldo told the official that his tackle wasn’t worthy of a penalty kick. The referee reviewed the incident on a pitchside monitor and rescinded his original decision. The incident was caught on camera and went viral on social media.
Soroush Rafiei brought Ronaldo inside the box in Riyadh during the game’s early stages. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward protested the referee’s decision. The Persepolis players joined him in arguing that the challenge did not deserve a penalty.
The referee initially awarded a spot kick to the visitors after noticing that Ronaldo blocked the ball with his elbow. However, it later became clear that the defender’s tackle was not as forceful as it looked. Replays also showed that the ball hit the player’s back, not his elbow, as both the referee and Ronaldo thought.
As a result, the referee consulted the VAR and decided to rescind the original penalty decision. In his explanation, the referee said he would have rescinded the penalty without Ronaldo’s intervention. The referee also said that he could have booked Ronaldo for diving, but that was not the case in this particular instance.
After the match finished in a 0-0 draw, Al Nassr’s official website thanked Ronaldo for his selfless display. The Saudi Arabian club said Ronaldo “showed a great deal of sportsmanship with his act on Monday.” The website added that it was an example to be followed by all other football stars.
There was a significant amount of criticism on social media, with many fans suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo should not be allowed to rob penalties. Others defended the Portuguese superstar and insisted that he did not rob the goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s honesty has won many hearts across the globe, and he has once again shown why he is one of the greatest players of all time. The 37-year-old has now won five consecutive Ballon d’Or awards. He is currently competing with Lionel Messi for the title, but there is a strong chance he will win again this year. The winner will be announced on December 13.
