A MUM has slammed Manchester United for acting “terribly” after her teen son was “assaulted” by Cristiano Ronaldo who then “acted like we owed him a favour”.
Sarah Kelly said her autistic son Jake Harding, 14, doesn’t want to meet the player after he allegedly slapped his phone out of his hand on the weekend.
Sarah Kelly slammed Ronaldo and Man Utd for the alleged attack the teen facedCredit: Sarah KellyChristiano Ronaldo was seen hiding in the back of his chauffeured car this morningCredit: ZenpixThe mum said that her son’s hand was bruised after the ordealCredit: Sarah KellyRonaldo was allegedly caught slapping a phone out of fans hand after playing EvertonCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Ronaldo let his frustrations show after United fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The 37-year-old appeared to slap a smartphone out of the 14-year-old’s hand as he made his way off the pitch.
Mum Sarah claims that the teen was left with bruises on his hand following the incident.
Man Utd had launched an investigation after the clip went viral, but the Sun Online understands Ronaldo will not face reprisals.
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Ronaldo’s sister pays gushing tribute to Man Utd star after Everton fan clash
It is understood the club have accepted his apology after the incident.
Now, mum Sarah said that they have no interest in meeting Ronaldo after his representatives reached out to them.
She told Sky News: “I’ve got nothing to say to [him].
“Why should I travel to Old Trafford? Why would ‘a Blue’ want to go to [visit] ‘a Red’?
“If he was genuine, I think he should have turned around at the moment of the incident, picked Jake’s phone up and been like, ‘I’m sorry.’
“That was the biggest laugh for me: ‘sportsmanship’. When you can do that to a 14-year-old boy. That’s not sportsmanship at all.”
ONLINE ABUSE
Apologising on his Instagram, Ronaldo wrote: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.
“Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.
“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.”
While the mum said that Everton has been “amazing” in response to the alleged attack, she has been left in tears over abuse online, coming “mainly from United fans.”
And she said Manchester United have handled the ordeal “terribly” which has “made things even worse.”
Just because he’s Cristiano Ronaldo, why would we do it?
Sarah Kelly
She told the Liverpool ECHO: “United have handled it terribly and it’s just made things even worse to be honest.
“The way I see it is, if someone assaulted him in the street and then asked us to go around for dinner, we wouldn’t.
“Just because he’s Cristiano Ronaldo, why would we do it? It’s like we owe him a favour, but I’m sorry, we don’t.
“We’ve kindly declined the offer to go to United because Jake doesn’t want to go there and he doesn’t want to see Ronaldo. He’s made that pretty clear.
“They’re not my words, they’re my son’s words. At the end of the day, this is what it’s about.
“It’s affected him more than it’s affected me, so I have put everything to him to make his own mind up on – he doesn’t want to go to United, he doesn’t want to go to see Ronaldo.
“All that I’m saying right now is that it’s in the hands of the police.”
The Man Utd ace apologised on Instagram following the ordealJake Harding’s phone was slapped out of his handCredit: Sarah Kelly
Ronaldo was visibly angry as he made his way off the turf following the Red Devils’ dismal loss at the hands of struggling Everton.
And the United superstar appeared to lash out as he headed back to the away team dressing room.
Merseyside Police are investigating.
In a statement, they said: “Following an incident at Goodison Park on Saturday 9th April, we are working with Everton Football Club and have been in touch with the boy’s family.
“The matter is under investigation and we are gathering information. Our enquiries remain ongoing at this time.
“Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police Contact centre quoting reference number 22000243890.”
The striker struggled throughout the lifeless defeat as his United team-mates failed to provide any service.
