Cristiano Ronaldo may have violated Covid-19 rules in Italy by flying to Turin from Portugal, claims Italy’s sports minister, after Juventus star tested positive while on international duty
- Italy’s sports minister believes Cristiano Ronaldo broke coronavirus protocol
- Ronaldo flew back to Italy from Portugal after testing positive for the virus
- Juventus defended Ronaldo, saying his flight was authorised by authorities
Italy’s sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora believes that Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo may have broken coronavirus protocol by flying from Portugal to Italy.
Ronaldo flew back to Turin despite having tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Portugal.
‘Yes, I think so, if there were no specific authorisations from the health authority,’ Spadafora told Radio Uno when asked whether Ronaldo’s return had breached COVID-19 rules.
Italy’s sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora believes Cristiano Ronaldo may have broke coronavirus protocol
Spadafora made the claim after Ronaldo flew to Italy from Portugal after testing positive for coronavirus
Ronaldo touched down in Italy on Wednesday afternoon having travelled in his private jet
He was immediately taken in an ambulance as he prepares to isolate at his home in Turin
Juventus defended Ronaldo, saying that his flight was authorised by the health authorities.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Italy with a medical flight authorised by the competent health authorities at the request of the player and will continue his isolation at his home,’ Juventus said in a statement.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday and took a private air ambulance to his house in Italy.
Ronaldo, who is asymptomatic, had posted a photo of himself having dinner with team-mates just a day before his positive test was revealed
Ronaldo gave a thumbs up from his balcony as he watched Portugal’s training session on Wednesday
Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez posted a picture that appeared to show her on a FaceTime call with the player, calling him ‘my inspiration’ after his positive test emerged
Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro controversially criticised Covid-19 as a ‘fraud’ on her Instagram page and said that her brother’s positive test result can ‘wake up the world’
Due to him having to self-isolate, Ronaldo won’t be able to feature for Juventus against Crotone in Serie A and will also be absent for the Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev.
Ronaldo and his team-mate Weston McKennie, who has also tested positive for coronavirus, will have to remain in self-isolation for at least 10 days and will have to test negative before they are permitted to join their teammates.
The entire Juventus squad had to isolate as a consequence, as a pre-caution ahead of the game against Crotone.
Ronaldo and his Juventus team-mate Weston McKennie have to self-isolate after testing positive for coronavirus
Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro criticised Covid-19 testing on her Instagram page after her sibling’s positive result.
‘If Cristiano Ronaldo has to wake the world up, I have to say he really is a prophet from God. Thank you,’ she wrote.
‘I believe that today thousands of people will stop believing as much in this pandemic, in the tests and in the measures taken like me… the biggest fraud I have ever seen since I was born. Open your eyes please.’
On Wednesday Ronaldo was seen smiling for the cameras and gestured with his thumbs up as he watched his Portugal team-mates train from the balcony of his room at the team complex.
Shortly after the announcement regarding the positive test was made, Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez posted a picture on Instagram which appeared to show the Portugal superstar in good spirits during a FaceTime call with her.