Cristiano Ronaldo has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after he slapped a mobile phone out of the hand of a teenage fan after Manchester United‘s defeat to Everton in April.
Ronaldo has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 relating to improper and/or violent conduct following the incident.
A statement from United read: ‘We note the FA announcement in relation to Cristiano Ronaldo. We will be supporting the player in his response to the charge.’
Ronaldo received a police caution for the incident which occurred at Everton last season
Following United’s 1-0 defeat to at Goodison Park last season, the Portuguese forward appeared to slap the hand of Jacob Harding as he stormed down the tunnel, damaging the boy’s phone.
Ronaldo apologised afterwards but was interviewed by police in relation to alleged assault and criminal damage and received a caution.
‘It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing,’ the 37-year-old wrote on Instagram after the incident.
‘Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.
Sarah Kelly says that she declined the opportunity to meet Cristiano Ronaldo after he smashed her son’s phone out of his hand but was then phoned by the Portuguese forward
‘I would like to apologise for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship.’
Jacob’s mother Sarah Kelly says that she declined the opportunity to meet Ronaldo after the incident but was then phoned by the Portuguese forward which led to a remarkable 10-minute exchange in which he pleaded for sympathy.
‘He asked me if I would like to come down and meet his family,’ she told The Mirror. He said, “I’m not a bad dad”. I said to him, “I never said you were a bad dad”.
‘He said, “I had a terrible upbringing, I lost my dad”. I said to him, “Everybody has a sob story Ronaldo, I lost my dad young, I’ve had cancer”.
‘He kept calling me Jack and didn’t even know my name and I said, “My name is Sarah” and he said, “Oh, Sarah, I’m sorry”.
‘He never referred to Jacob by his name either, it was always “the boy”. “I know the boy’s got problems”, he said. I told him, “He hasn’t got a problem, he has a disability, you’re the one with the problem”.
Sarah described Ronaldo as the ‘most arrogant man I’ve ever spoken to’ and felt that he has ‘got away with it’.