The young girl approached Ronaldo after full-time at the Aviva on Thursday
A young girl who ran onto the pitch and was gifted Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt revealed she has been issued with a fine of €3000 for doing so.
As reported in the Irish Mirror, the girl, 11-year-old Addison Whelan, headed straight towards Ronaldo after the 0-0 draw between Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium.
Speaking to radio station, FM104, she revealed that she was given a fine for her efforts – and that her dad would be helping to pay the money off.
“I was fined for running onto the pitch,” she said. “My dad’s going to pay it.”
Addison went on to recall how she managed to evade security for just long enough to get within touching distance of the multi-Ballon d’or winner.
“I jumped over the barrier because I was in the second row,” she explained. “I jumped over the first row and over the barrier.
“Then I sprinted onto the pitch, but there were security guards running behind me and there was another two coming from the other corner so I just kept sprinting.
“When I saw the other two coming from the other corner I ran more towards the halfway line so then I could swerve around them, but then they caught me.”
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Despite being caught by security, she managed to get the attention of Ronaldo by shouting his name.
She said:”I was just screaming Ronaldo’s name. He turned around and he saw me and he was telling them to leave me.
“So then I was calling him over. He came over to me. I was just in shock and crying and I was like ‘Can I have your jersey? Please, please. I’m a big, huge fan’.
“He was saying are you okay?”
“When my dad seen him taking off the shirt, my dad’s face was just in shock.
“I was like ‘oh my God, this is it, this is my dream, it’s finally coming true’. That was probably his last time playing in Ireland. He [Ronaldo] said I appreciate that and everything.”
UPDATE: The FAI confirmed to SportsJOE in a statement that Whelan will not be fined.
“We want to reassure Addison that of course she will not face any fine for running onto the pitch and asking for Ronaldo’s jersey,” FAI Media and Football Relations Director Cathal Dervan said.
This was before adding: “On a serious note we would remind fans at all games that fines are liable to be levied by UEFA in certain instances for entering the field of play, particularly when the game is ongoing and we urge all fans to respect this very sensible rule.”
Related links:
- Young fan Ronaldo gave his jersey to reveals what he said to her
- Howard Webb admits wanting Ronaldo to miss penalty after realising mistake
- Darren Fletcher shares incredible story of how Walter Smith helped transform Cristiano Ronaldo
