John Terry slammed the BBC for its ‘disgraceful’ caption poking fun at Cristiano Ronaldo for missing his penalty.
Ronaldo missed a spot kick in extra-time that would have sent Portugal through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Instead they went to penalties with Slovenia, the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
Portgual goalkeeper Diogo Costa then saved all three of Slovenia’s opening spot-kicks, with Ronaldo making amending by converting his.
Bernardo Silva slotted in the winning penalty to secure a quarter-final against France in Hamburg on Friday.
He wrote alongside it: “BBC this is a disgrace.”
Terry and Ronaldo may have been old adversaries from their days at Chelsea and Manchester United, and also at international level.
But the former England centre-back knows all too well at just how cruel missing a penalty can feel.
In the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United, he missed his spot kick in the shootout when he slipped just before taking it.
Terry slammed the BBC for their ‘Misstiano Penaldo’ caption
Terry is still haunted by his penalty miss in the Champions League final.
Chelsea went on to lose and it is a moment that still haunts Terry.
Gabby’s not happy
The subject also came up on the talkSPORT Breakfast show with Jeff Stelling and Gabby Agbonlahor suitably unimpressed.
Stelling said: “You probably saw the pictures of the BBC caption ‘Misstiano Penaldo’. That must be a 12-year-old caption writer who has done that.”
Agbonlahor said: “Who is doing that? It’s disrespectful.”
Stelling added: “It’s absolutely outrageous and disrespectful to a man that has achieved so much in the game.
“He’s been a wonderful player and still is a wonderful player in some people’s eyes.”
Agbonlahor added: “Even if it was a Slovenia player, why are you putting a caption like that?”
Ronaldo was also backed up by Conor McGregor, the UFC superstar, who threw his weight behind the footballer by telling his millions of followers on social media that it was ‘true passion’ shown for his country.
Ronaldo himself admitted he was at ‘rock bottom’ when he missed that extra-time penalty against Slovenia.
“Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most,” said Ronaldo.
“Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.
“But the important thing is to enjoy it. The team did an extraordinary job. We fought right to the end and I think we deserved it because we had more authority.”
talkSPORT
