Posted: 15:08, September 23, 2022 | Updated: 15:33, 23 September 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo has been charged with misconduct by the FA after he slapped a mobile phone out of the hand of a teenage fan following Manchester United’s defeat by Everton in April. Ronaldo has been charged with breaching FA Regulation E3 regarding inappropriate and/or violent behavior following the incident. United’s statement read: “We note the FA’s announcement in relation to Cristiano Ronaldo. We will support the player in his response to the charge.” Cristiano Ronaldo was filmed slapping a phone out of the hand of a teenage fan at Everton in April. Sarah Kelly says her son Jake Harding, 14, was left with a bruised arm after the incident. The FA charge follows an investigation by Merseyside Police which resulted in Ronaldo being cautioned last month after being questioned over allegations of assault and criminal damage. 14-year-old Jake Harding tried to film Ronaldo on his phone as he limped off the pitch at Goodison Park after United’s 1-0 defeat. The Portuguese star angrily knocked the phone out of the boy’s hands, leaving him with a bruised arm according to his mother Sarah Kelly. Ronaldo apologized on social media and invited the boy to watch a match at Old Trafford as his guest. He wrote: “It is never easy to deal with emotions in difficult times like the one we are facing. “However, we must always be respectful, patient and set an example for all young people who love the beautiful game. “I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this fan to attend a match at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship.” However, the boy declined Ronaldo’s invitation and his mother also criticized United’s response to the incident. Ronaldo, 37, is now accused of misconduct by the Football Association “United handled it terribly and just made it worse to be honest,” he said. “The way I see it, if someone attacked him on the street and then asked us out for dinner, we wouldn’t do it. “Just because it’s Cristiano Ronaldo, why should we?” It’s like we owe him a favor, but I’m sorry, we don’t. “They are not my words, they are my son’s words. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. This affected him more than I did, so I’ve given everything to him to decide. He doesn’t want to go to United, he doesn’t want to go see Ronaldo.’
