Cristiano Ronaldo was left fuming after his late winner for Portugal was wrongly chalked off in the game against Serbia.
A thrilling FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Portugal and Serbia came to an anticlimactic finish as Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, an international referee since 2008, disallowed Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winner believing the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
However, replays showed that the ball had, in fact, gone over the line by a few fair inches before it was cleared by Aleksander Mitrovic. He had a discussion with the linesman and chose to stick with his original decision.
Serbia 2-2 Portugal.
Last minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he’s won it.
No goal-line technology.
Goal not given.
— Goal (@goal) March 28, 2021
Portugal had to settle for a 2-2 draw and Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off the pitch in disgust at the referee’s decision.
The decision by the referee had cost Portugal two valuable points in their World Cup qualifying campaign and Ronaldo a 103rd international goal. However, Danny Makkelie, who had no goal-line technology to review his decision, has owned up to his error.
In disbelief over the call, or lack thereof, Ronaldo stormed off the field, throwing his captain’s armband in a tantrum that has led to global criticism of the Juventus star.
Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly frustrated after his late goal wasn’t counted to break the 2-2 tie 😳
(via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/FRytnxJC0f
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) March 27, 2021
Speaking to A Bola, referee Danny Makkelie stated that he has apologized to the Portuguese team and the coach for what had happened and added that being in the news does not make him or other referees happy.
The ref said: “As per FIFA’s policies, all I can say is that I apologized to the national coach, Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened. As a referee team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we are in the news in this manner, it doesn’t make us happy at all.”
Ronaldo and co have to dust themselves down quickly ahead of their next Group A clash away at Luxembourg on Tuesday night. As it stands, Portugal are second in the pool on goal difference behind Serbia, who are scheduled to face Azerbaijan next.
