Cristiano Ronaldo’s captain’s armband that he threw down in anger as Portugal drew with Serbia has ended up raising €64,000 (roughly £54,000) in an auction.
Young Gavrilo Djurdjevic from Serbia, who is six months old, is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy and the funds will go towards their treatment.
Humanitarian organisation Together for Life is looking to raise €2.5m – roughly £2.1m.
The armband worn by Ronaldo was taken from the pitch by Duty firefighter Djordje Vukicevic, who donated it to Together for Life and baby Gavril.
“Ronaldo was agitated [and] he threw the armband. It fell right next to me,” he said.
(Image: Getty Images)
“The entire crew agreed this [armband] will go for little Gavrilo.”
Gavrilo’s mother Nevena has said since the auction: “We could not believe that some people who do not even know us… would take the armband, auction it and help our child.”
Ronaldo threw it down in fury when he was denied a late winner in Belgrade. Serbia had battled back from 2-0 down, but were fortunate to escape with a point.
The Portuguese star thought he had converted a late chance and reeled away in celebration.
(Image: MIGUEL A LOPES/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Replays showed that the ball clearly crossed the line, but the officials felt otherwise at the time.
Ronaldo berated the assistant referee and was subsequently given a yellow card for his protests.
Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has since apologised for his error which cost Portugal two points in World Cup qualification.
“As per FIFA’s policies, all I can say is that I apologised to the national coach, Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened,” he told A Bola .
“As a referee team, we always work hard to make good decisions.
“When we are in the news in this manner, it doesn’t make us happy at all.”
