ONE of Britain’s leading children’s charities has distanced itself from Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo after he allegedly bruised a young Everton fan. Save the Children who work to keep kids “safe, healthy and learning” tonight told The Sun Ronaldo is no longer one of their ambassadors. Video circulating on social media after yesterday’s match […]
ONE of Britain’s leading children’s charities has distanced itself from Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo after he allegedly bruised a young Everton fan.
Save the Children who work to keep kids “safe, healthy and learning” tonight told The Sun Ronaldo is no longer one of their ambassadors.
Video circulating on social media after yesterday’s match showed a visibly angry Ronaldo knocking a mobile phone out of a young supporter’s hand as he made his way off the Goodison Park turf.
And the youngster’s mum accused Ronaldo of “assaulting a child”.
Sarah Kelly had taken her 14-year-old son Jake to a game for the first time when the incident happened.
The star had issued a grovelling apology after the game at Old Trafford – and his club has said they are no longer investigating the matter.
However, he still faces an investigation by Merseyside cops.
And now the football star, who was last year ranked as the most charitable athlete in the world, is being pushed aside by one of the foundations where he worked as an ambassador.
Save the Children said in a statement: “Cristiana Ronaldo has been a supporter of Save the Children’s work for impoverished families around the world.
“He has not worked with Save the Children since July 2018 and is no longer a Save the Children ambassador.”
He joined the charity in 2013 as a Global Ambassador to “make sure every child has the chance to reach their potential”, according to a press release at the time.
Ronaldo is also an ambassador for UNICEF Portugal – part of the world’s leading organisation working for children in danger.
When approached by The Sun the charity declined to comment on whether he will remain in that position.
It comes as thousands of Ronaldo’s fans yesterday rushed to social media to support the forward – using his charity work as a defence against his actions.
But others argued that despite giving away millions to those in need, it does not excuse his behaviour.
One man wrote: “‘Oh but Cristiano Ronaldo has done a lot for charity’.
“Well that doesn’t make him a nice person though, does it?”
Another added: “Messi actually has done more charity work than Ronaldo but that isn’t the point.
“Ronaldo is very much a petty person even with his teammates.”
Yesterday the striker struggled throughout the lifeless defeat as his United team-mates failed to provide any service.
He did eventually have a chance to level things up late on but was denied from close-range by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The full-time result was blasted by players and pundits alike, with Red Devils stopper David De Gea labelling the performance as “disgraceful”.
Elsewhere club legend turned pundit Gary Neville slammed Ralf Rangnick’s side as “a joke”.
United have now lost three of their last five games, with Rangnick picking up just eight league victories from 17 games.
That’s a win percentage of 47 per cent, worse than any other United manager in Premier League history.
Ronaldo’s team declined to comment.
