Referee Danny Makkelie said he apologised to Portugal coach Fernando Santos after not giving Cristiano Ronaldo the winner against Serbia.
The Dutch referee was criticised after a Portugal winner wasn’t given in the World Cup Qualifiers, as Ronaldo managed to beat the goalkeeper for a last-gasp 3-2 winner, and the ball seemed to cross the line completely before the desperate clearance.
The referee and linesman didn’t award the goal and Ronaldo was furious after the final whistle, throwing his captain’s armband to the floor in rage.
“According to the FIFA policy, all I can say is that I apologised to the coach of the national team, Fernando Santos, and the Portuguese team for what happened,” Makkelie told A Bola.
“As a refereeing team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we get news like this, it doesn’t satisfy us at all.”
The referee at the centre of Portugal's 2022 World Cup qualifying row has revealed he apologised for an error of judgement in refusing to award Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike against Serbia.
With the match finely poised at 2-2 it appeared Ronaldo had secured three vital points when he rounded goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic to score.
Defender Stefan Mitrovic raced to clear on the goal line and hacked the ball away, leaving the officials to declare it had not gone over the line and to continue playing.
The decision caused Ronaldo to storm off, furious at the officiating, and he could yet face retrospective sanctions from FIFA.
Article 11 in FIFA's Disciplinary Code is titled: 'Offensive conduct or violation of the principles of fair play'.
The article says: 'Associations and clubs, as well as their players, officials or any other member or person performing a function on their behalf, must comply with the Laws of the Game, the FIFA Statutes and the regulations, directives, guidelines, circulars and the decisions of FIFA; likewise, they must comply with the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.'
It has yet to be confirmed if Ronaldo, who threw his captain's armband to the ground before vacating the pitch prior to the final whistle, breached Article 11.
Referee Danny Makkelie was hounded by Portugal's players and management staff but he did not change his view that the ball had in fact not crossed the line.
'All I can say is that I apologised to the national coach, Mr. Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened,' Makkelie told Portuguese newspaper A Bola.
'As a refereeing team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we are in the news this way, it does not make us happy at all.'
Portugal boss Fernando Santos claimed that Makkelie told him he was 'embarrassed' at the final whistle.
'The referee apologised to me in the booth and told me he was embarrassed,' Santos said. 'I was in the dressing room with him and apologised to me.'
Makkelie and his colleagues were vilified by the Portuguese press over the weekend, with front pages talking up a 'theft' and also singing the praises of 'VAR, sweet VAR'.
In the eyes of Ronaldo, the decision not to award the goal left an 'entire nation harmed'.
'Being captain of the Portugal team is one of the greatest pride and privileges of my life,' Ronaldo said on Instagram.
'I always give and will give everything for my country, that will never change.
'But there are difficult times to deal with, especially when we feel that an entire nation is being harmed. Lift your head and face the next challenge now! Come on, Portugal!'
While many could understand the grievances of Ronaldo, former Portugal international Fernando Meira took a swipe at the talisman for 'setting a bad example' to others.
Much was made of Ronaldo's decision to rip off his captain's armband before throwing it to the ground with opinion divided on whether it was disrespectful given the circumstances.
Meira told Record : 'It's clearly a goal, but Ronaldo can't throw the armband on the ground like that.
'Cristiano's reaction is natural, but it's not acceptable from the national team captain. You can't throw the armband on the ground and head into the dressing room while the game is still going on.
'It's not acceptable behaviour for a player of his stature. The example he set last night wasn't good enough.'
It was an explosive ending to a thrilling World Cup qualifier as Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic became his country's all-time top scorer on 39 goals from 63 international appearances.
The Fulham forward netted his side's first goal in a 2-2 home draw as the Serbians fought back from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils.
Mitrovic pulled one back in the 46th minute and Filip Kostic levelled after a brace from Liverpool forward Diogo Jota had given Portugal a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Liverpool forward Jota fired the European champions ahead with an 11th-minute header from a superb Bernardo Silva assist and added another in the 36th as he glanced a Cedric Soares cross from the right.
Ayaanzzy_10
683
it is the year 2021 and there is no VAR or Goal line technology in a WC qualifying game
Vuabdmptuy
353
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
Daobksuz
273
that referee was a blind or what that was a goal rubbish man idiot
Daobksuz
178
no no no no no no that was a really goal that idiot stupid referee mother fuck Portugal won 3-2 the score was Serbia 2-3 Portugal CR7 THE BEST.
Jeydimnopu
145
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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what is wrong with you dude? All you are saying is scoring winning goal is selfishness then noone should score late goals in the match... if scoring against weak team is problem then how you would judge any team as strong or weak as much as i know Ronaldo scored hattrick against spain and he scored that equalise last goal at last moment then he should have felt shamed as he scored last minute goal... such a bull shit you are
mipcklmnst
17
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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Useless message I have read in 2021... mtchewwww
ajw
16
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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stupid comment, continue condemning CR7 but atleast he has done something for his country. what about you fool?
wunblrsuz
15
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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Wats wrong with your head ??? So cr7 left real cause he didn’t score at the finals ?? Are you ok ?
AbdurasaqSalman
12
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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it is a shame on you that you know nothing. Have you forget the Euro won by Portugal when Ronaldo couldn't stay at the hospital all because of the love he has for his country. He motivated Eder that he can do. Lastly is it easy to be donating blood every time without interest? Is it easy to give your golden boot to your nation mate? argue and go and ask Nani
XavierDery
9
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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This guy is an illiterate, stupid and not fit to be here. Since when has scoring a late goal become a selfish act, and how on earth won’t anyone misconduct himself? So what about Messi spitting on other players or insulting them. Hey dude, go get your brain he’s human and he reacts differently to issues surrounding him.
lanotuz
9
Waiting always to be the one to score winning goals shows how selfish and egotistical some can be. Disallowed goal in Qualifers against fifa lowly ranked team on 125th on fifa rank seen as an attack against the whole nation of portugal 🇵🇹 is laughable! Don't forget portugal 🇵🇹 bottled 🍼 2:0 lead! It was terrible to have such goal disallowed but it was more terrible to throw away captain hand band and storm out of the pitch because of disallowed goal. Last ucl final won by madrid that cr7 didn't score but Benzema and Bale scored to seal 3rd consecutive ucl titles for madrd and right there on the pitch at final whistle cr7 announced his exit from Madrid which made Ramos to challenge him that it was wrong to do that when the team are celebrating their victory. Cr7 always think more and care more about himself and himself only if not what has captain band got to do with his goal been disallowed? Cr7 showed his true colors that day. For those of you who think messi is not a good leader, it mean you don't even understand the meaning or definitions of leadership!
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how do u manage to get 1 like its obvious this like is fake AF is trash