Portugal coach Fernando Santos did not want to confirm whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo would stay captain after his antics against South Korea.
The 37-year-old threw his toys as Santos took him off in the 65th minute of Portugal’s dead rubber third group match after already being qualified with the game tied at 1-1.
South Korea went on to win the match 2-1 but the major talking point in Portuguese media was Ronaldo’s reaction, which also upset his own coach who said he “really didn’t like” Ronaldo’s antics.
Santos, though, insisted the matter was dealt with internally and will not affect Portugal’s last 16 clash with Switzerland on Tuesday.
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However, the Portugal coach didn’t want to confirm whether Ronaldo would remain Portugal captain.
“I only decide who is going to be captain when I reach the stadium,” he replied when asked about Ronaldo’s armband, as per Eurosport.
“I still don’t know what the line-up will be. That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I’m always going to do and it’s going to be the same tomorrow.
“The other topic is solved. We have fixed that in-house and that’s it.”
Ronaldo himself had stated that his gestures were not directed at his coach but an opposition player, who had asked him to leave the pitch quicker.
“Before my substitution, one of their players was telling me to leave quickly. I told him to shut up, he has no authority, he doesn’t have to say anything,” he stated.
