Adidas insist technology shows Cristiano Ronaldo did not touch ball for Portugal goal

Adidas has announced that their technology has enabled them to prove Cristiano Ronaldo “definitively made no contact” with the ball for Portugal’s opening goal against Uruguay on Monday.

There appeared to be confusion during the Group H fixture on Monday, which finished 2-0 to Portugal, when Bruno Fernandes’ floating cross hit the back of the net with Ronaldo leaping in the penalty area, in an attempt to make contact with the ball.

Ronaldo, 37, wheeled away to celebrate, suggesting he had connected with the ball to score his ninth goal at a World Cup finals.

However, minutes later, Fernandes’ picture flashed on the Lusail Stadium’s big screen with the word “GOAL” next to his headshot.

Fernandes was officially handed the goal on the night, and ball manufacturer Adidas have attempted to clear any confusion regarding Portugal’s goalscorer.

The statement read: “In the match between Portugal and Uruguay, using the Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas’s Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game.

“No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of ‘heartbeat’ in our measurements and in the attached graphic.

“The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows us to be highly accurate in our analysis.”

The Al Rihla match ball contains a sensor suspended in its centre to assist in detecting unclear touches and improve the quality of VAR decision-making, making it the first World Cup ball to feature such an innovation.

The line on the graph shows when Fernandes crossed the ball towards goal

There is no movement on the graph when Ronaldo tried to head the ball into the net

After Monday’s game, Ronaldo did not speak to reporters but Fernandes commented on the situation, saying, “I don’t think it really matters who scored the goal at this point.

“The feeling I had was Cristiano touched the ball, I was putting the ball to him and the important thing is we were able to win the match against a very tough opponent.”

Ronaldo will have to wait until Portugal’s final group match against South Korea on Friday to increase his goal tally at this World Cup, but with two wins in their first two matches, Portugal are at least guaranteed a place in next week’s round of 16.

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(Photo: Getty Images)