UEFA will increase security measures for the remaining Euro 2024 matches after several pitch invaders attempted to take selfies with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
During Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Turkey on Saturday in Dortmund, the 39-year-old Ronaldo posed for a photo with a young boy but grew frustrated as at least five more fans tried to do the same.
“Safety and security in the stadium, on the pitch, and at team facilities are the ultimate priority for UEFA,” the European football governing body told AFP on Sunday. “To this end, additional safety measures will be deployed in the stadiums to further meet the requirements of the tournament and to prevent such incidents.”
One security official collided with Goncalo Ramos while trying to stop a pitch invader from reaching Ronaldo.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez noted the potential danger, stating, “It is a concern because today we were lucky that the intentions of the fans were good. It is a very difficult moment if those intentions are wrong… probably we should give a message to the fans that it is not the right way.”
UEFA emphasized that any spectators entering the field of play will be ejected from the stadium, banned from future matches, and face “the filing of a formal criminal complaint for trespass.”