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Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo by Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo may have violated Italian measures against the coronavirus by traveling to Portugal while Juventus was in isolation, returning to Turin this week after testing positive, Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday.
“Yes, I think so, if there were no specific authorizations from the health authority,” Spadafora told Radio Uno when asked if the 35-year-old Portuguese star had violated Covid-19 rules.
Ronaldo risks a fine after joining his squad last week despite Juventus being isolated after two staff members tested positive.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner tested positive on Monday, a day after Portugal drew 0-0 with France in Paris, and returned to Italy in his private jet on Wednesday.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said on Thursday that his club had respected sports protocol, referring to the “Ministries of Health and Interior” to find out what rules Ronaldo had broken.
“Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Italy with a medical flight authorized by the competent health authorities at the request of the player and will continue his isolation at home,” Juventus said in a statement.
The entire Juventus team was once again isolated Wednesday night after American midfielder Weston McKennie tested positive.
Both McKennie and Ronaldo are in quarantine, for at least 10 days, and must test negative before meeting with their teammates.
“I believe that, at this time, the protocols in force for sports championships, both for Serie A football and for sports associations and clubs, are valid as long as they are respected,” Spadafora said.
“And if there is someone who does not respect them, then the cases that we read in the news are created.”
Under UEFA rules, a player must provide evidence that he is no longer ill one week before a European match.
Ronaldo, who will miss Juventus’ first Champions League game against Dynamo Kiev on October 20, must test negative on October 21 to play Barcelona a week later.
