Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez was concerned about pitch invasions by fans looking for Cristiano Ronaldo during Euro 2024 football and recalled that one day “the intentions may be wrong”.
“This is worrying. The fans’ intentions were good today. But one day the intentions may turn out to be wrong. This cannot happen on a football field, especially when there is a lot of security there. Fans must understand that this is not the right way and they will not gain anything from it,” said Roberto Martinez.
The national team coach spoke to reporters at a press conference after Portugal’s 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund in the second round of Group F.
In that match at Signal Iduna Park, four fans one at a time “broke” the security and invaded the field, approaching Cristiano Ronaldo, a situation that always led to the interruption of the match.
This happened in the first game against the Czech Republic (2-1) in Leipzig, as well as in an open training session that Portugal held in Gütersloh, on the second day of the Portuguese delegation’s stay on German soil.
There were also problems at the sports complex in Marienfeld, where the national team is based, as two fans managed to enter the premises and were eventually detained by local police.
Bernardo Silva, on the other hand, did not express concern about the situation, although he admitted that it was “irritating”.
“I do not worry. It annoys me to have to stop the game because a fan is on the field. This is the price that Cristiano Ronaldo has received so much recognition in the world of football. But personally, from a security point of view, I’m not worried. I don’t feel that way at all,” he also said at a press conference.
The Manchester City man was named man of the match against Turkey after scoring Portugal’s first goal in a match that saw the national team secure progress to the last 16 and top of Group F.