Ronaldo, Portugal squad give amateur clubs financial boost

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates have donated half of their bonus for qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals to help amateur football in the country that has been hit by the coronavirus shutdown.

The Portuguese football federation said on Monday the money would go towards a fund that it hopes will reach 4.7 million euros ($5.1 million) to help amateur clubs survive the crisis.

The federation last week decided to end the already-suspended amateur season with immediate effect, declaring the season null and void without champions, promotion or relegation.

No decision has been taken on resuming professional football but the president of the Portuguese league said in late March he was determined the season should be completed.

“It is fundamental that the championships end because it would allow some sort of normality to be restored and we could prepare for next season knowing who has qualified for international competitions, who the champions are and who is relegated,” Pedro Proenca said.

Portugal shocked host nation France to win Euro 2016 but Ronaldo and his team-mates will have to wait another year to defend their title as Euro 2020 has been postponed by 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey might have recently joined Juventus from Arsenal, but he cannot stop praising team-mate Ronaldo, calling him unbelievable. With sporting events across the globe either cancelled or suspended, sportspersons have been taking to social media to interact with fans and friends.

In an Instagram live with singer and songwriter Niall Horan, Ramsay said: “He’s an exceptional athlete. He’s first in the gym, he goes through his whole routine first and then he’s out onto the pitches. He’s a winner, wants to win every single game, every small-sided game, whatever it is, then he’ll be out there practising his free-kicks and things like that and shooting. You don’t need me to tell you how good or driven he is, he’s unbelievable, he’s one of the greatest in the history of the game.”

Agencies