A pitch invader heckled Captain Cristiano Ronaldo as fans stormed Portugal’s open training ahead of their EURO 2024 campaign. Roberto Martinez’s side, including Ronaldo and Wolves teammates Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo, had their first session in Gütersloh in front of nearly 8,000 fans. However, the session ended early when a dozen supporters breached the pitch.
Fans invade Portugal open training to watch Ronaldo
Thousands of fans eagerly attended the open training, hoping to see Ronaldo up close. Initially, 6,000 free tickets were distributed to supporters this week, allowing them to watch one of the tournament favourites.
But suddenly, the session halted as about a dozen fans invaded the pitch. Although security staff managed to keep most fans away from the Portugal players, one fan got too close to Ronaldo, leaving him startled.
Jose Sa to rescue
As tensions rose, goalkeeper José Sá intervened. Displaying more determination than the bib-wearing security guards, Sá rushed to the touchline and grabbed one of the pitch invaders by the neck.
While this action would earn a red card in a match, it showed the Portuguese players’ frustration over the disrupted session. Portugal is preparing for their opening Euro 2024 match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
