Referee Makkelie: ‘I apologised to Portugal’

Referee Danny Makkelie said he apologised to Portugal coach Fernando Santos after not giving Cristiano Ronaldo the winner against Serbia.

The Dutch referee was criticised after a Portugal winner wasn’t given in the World Cup Qualifiers, as Ronaldo managed to beat the goalkeeper for a last-gasp 3-2 winner, and the ball seemed to cross the line completely before the desperate clearance.

Referee Danny Makkelie said he apologised to Portugal coach Fernando Santos after not giving Cristiano Ronaldo the winner against Serbia.

The Dutch referee was criticised after a Portugal winner wasn’t given in the World Cup Qualifiers, as Ronaldo managed to beat the goalkeeper for a last-gasp 3-2 winner, and the ball seemed to cross the line completely before the desperate clearance.

The referee and linesman didn’t award the goal and Ronaldo was furious after the final whistle, throwing his captain’s armband to the floor in rage.

“According to the FIFA policy, all I can say is that I apologised to the coach of the national team, Fernando Santos, and the Portuguese team for what happened,” Makkelie told A Bola.

“As a refereeing team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we get news like this, it doesn’t satisfy us at all.”