Cristiano Ronaldo knocked the phone out of the hands of an autistic child. The boy's mother did not accept the footballer's apology

Cristiano Ronaldo knocked the phone out of the hands of an autistic child. The boy's mother did not accept the footballer's apology

Cristiano Ronaldo knocked the phone out of the hands of a child suffering from autism. The incident occurred on April 9, when the footballer and the team left the field after the match between Manchester United and Liverpool Everton. The boy, who was rooting for Everton, was filming on his phone as the players were leaving and lowered the phone when Ronaldo removed the gaiter from his injured leg. Noticing the camera, the player knocked the phone out of the child's hands. The boy's mother told the publication LiverpoolEcho that her son came to a football match for the first time, and Ronaldo was his idol.

My son filmed the Manchester United players leaving for a subtribe visit. After that, he lowered the phone lower, seeing the blood on Ronaldo's leg when he took off his gaiter. Jake lowered the phone to see what it was, didn't say a word. Ronaldo was walking by in a terrible mood, knocked the phone out of my son's hands and walked on. There was a bruise on his son's arm. I just can't believe I'm talking about this. The son was very upset, it completely discouraged him from going to the game again.

He has autism and dyspraxia, and this was the first football match he attended. We had an amazing day, but those seconds ruined everything. My son was always saying: "Ronaldo will be there." This is his idol. I could understand if Jake was waving the phone in front of his face, but that wasn't the case. He only wanted to examine the wound. This is a boy with autism who was attacked by a football player — that's my view as a mom.

Cristiano Ronaldo apologized for his behavior on social networks and offered the boy and his mother free tickets to a football match.

Coping with emotions is always not easy in such difficult moments as the one we faced. Nevertheless, we must always show respect, patience and set an example to all young people who love a beautiful game. I would like to apologize for my temper and, if possible, invite this fan to watch the game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sporting behavior,

— the football player wrote on Instagram (belongs to Meta, recognized in the Russian Federation as an ex-extremist organization).

However, the boy's mother was not satisfied with this — she said that he should have asked for forgiveness personally from her son. The lack of his apology angered me even more. Of course, he asked for forgiveness, but he had to do it from my son. I would be glad if he found out our contacts and talked to us. I am shocked that the club has not released its statement on this occasion. If someone had done something like this on the street, they would have been detained, interrogated," The Telegraph quotes her as saying. She added that her son, who is more for Everton, does not need tickets for the Manchester United match.

Now law enforcement officers will deal with the incident.

More in the section Celebrity

A collection of Taylor Swift memorabilia and album items
Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss reunite in Chiefs VIP suite after years-long feud

The pop star and the model sat together at Arrowhead Stadium, ending a rumored years-long rift that fans thought was permanent.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, with Prince George
Celebrity

Prince William's blunt reason for splitting with Kate: 'I wanted to be sure'

Royal photographer Arthur Edwards says William told him he split with Kate before the engagement because he wanted to be sure the marriage would last.

Billie Eilish on stage at Pukkelpop Festival in 2019
Celebrity

Billie Eilish's Halloween was a blue bob and head-to-toe latex as Noodle

The singer channeled Gorillaz guitarist Noodle for Halloween, complete with a bright blue bob and a white latex minidress.

Nicolas Cage speaking at Los Angeles Comic Con in 2026
Celebrity

Nicolas Cage and wife Riko Shibata hit the red carpet after sinkhole left them 'homeless'

The actor and his wife smiled at the Madden premiere in L.A., days after revealing their Malibu mansion nearly fell into a giant sinkhole.

Kim Kardashian speaking in a public service announcement video
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian's metal-disc GMA gown is 1989 Paco Rabanne couture

Kim Kardashian hit Good Morning America in a vintage 1989 Paco Rabanne haute couture gown made entirely of metal discs.

Taylor Swift in a 2007 press photo
Celebrity

Taylor Swift hugged babies and schmoozed journos at her Toy Story 5 Oscar push

Taylor Swift worked a packed "Toy Story 5" screening in New York, hugging kids and schmoozing journalists as she chases her first Oscar nod.

Sarah Paulson at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian thought Sarah Paulson's All's Fair voice was real

Sarah Paulson hilariously busted her costar, who believed the husky twang she uses for Carrington Lane was her actual voice.

Martha Stewart smiling at an event
Celebrity

Martha Stewart sorry over homeless Halloween costume: 'Never my intention'

Martha Stewart has apologized after a since-deleted Halloween photo showed her dressed as a homeless person, holding a sign reading "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!"

Zendaya posing on a red carpet
Celebrity

Zendaya recreates Halle Berry's 2000 X-Men premiere look for Halloween

The actress threw it back to Y2K, wearing the vintage Lanvin set Berry debuted at the original X-Men premiere in 2000.

Lisa Rinna at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026
Celebrity

Lisa Rinna's Kylie Jenner Halloween costume fooled Kylie herself

Lisa Rinna, 63, transformed into a 29-year-old Kylie Jenner on Live with Kelly and Mark's Halloween episode, and Kylie replied: "Thought this was me."


Kylie Jenner looking at the camera
Lifestyle

Kylie Jenner made her LACMA debut in a shimmering deer-spot gown - it's fawn girl fall

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell
Sport

Tank Dell scores first TD in 687 days as Texans receiver completes comeback from torn knee

A collection of Taylor Swift memorabilia and album items
Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss reunite in Chiefs VIP suite after years-long feud

A can of jellied cranberry sauce with sliced cranberry sauce discs on a plate
Food

Ocean Spray turned canned cranberry sauce into chocolate candy - $24.95 a box

Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage at Lollapalooza Argentina 2025
Entertainment

Olivia Rodrigo is back at No. 1 as Thriller jumps to its highest spot in 40 years

Red rock canyon vista at Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah
Travel

Utah's national parks after dark: scorpion hunts, moonlit kayaks and star hikes

Hands with matte black nail polish dotted with small white polka dots
Lifestyle

Hailey Bieber swaps glazed nails for glossy black - and it's fall's biggest manicure

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami in action during an MLS match
Sport

Messi sets up two as Inter Miami blow 3-0 lead but seal second in MLS

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, with Prince George
Celebrity

Prince William's blunt reason for splitting with Kate: 'I wanted to be sure'

A bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal squares
Food

Dunkin' teams with General Mills on 3 coffee-flavored cereals for December

Sylvain Chomet, French animation filmmaker, photographed in 2025
Entertainment

Sylvain Chomet: Dior film was 'entirely drawn by artists,' not AI

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas sailing off Puerto Rico; a sister ship to Legend of the Seas
Travel

Legend of the Seas, world's largest cruise ship, makes U.S. debut this weekend

Nicole Kidman at a public event
Lifestyle

Nicole Kidman's "Birkin" bangs were cut to feel like Sydney's salt air

Doc Rivers coaching from the sideline during a game
Sport

Doc Rivers says Giannis 'doesn't have super IQ' and never wanted to be the bad guy

Billie Eilish on stage at Pukkelpop Festival in 2019
Celebrity

Billie Eilish's Halloween was a blue bob and head-to-toe latex as Noodle

Charcuterie board arranged with cheeses, cured meats, olives and vegetables
Food

Turkuterie: a Bosc pear becomes a turkey-shaped cheese board in 30 minutes

Brad Pitt smiling during a press appearance
Entertainment

Brad Pitt's Cliff Booth is back - and the new trailer finally shows the plot

View of downtown Montreal from Kondiaronk Belvedere on Mont Royal
Travel

Montreal is a gluten-free paradise - here's exactly where to eat

Margot Robbie at the Paris premiere of Wuthering Heights
Lifestyle

Margot Robbie just debuted her sharpest, iciest bob yet

CeeDee Lamb in Dallas Cowboys uniform during a game
Sport

CeeDee Lamb blasts Cowboys offense: 'We stop ourselves. That sh*t is frustrating'