The Dutch referee has confirmed he has apologized to the Portuguese national team for ruling out Ronaldo’s late goal.
Referee Danny Makkelie has apologized to Fernando Santos and the Portugal team for denying Cristiano Ronaldo’s match-winning goal in the 2-2 draw at Serbia on Sunday.
Despite Ronaldo’s effort crossing the line before Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic cleared it, Makkelie waved for play to continue – much to Cristiano’s utter disbelief and fury.
Serbia 2-2 Portugal.
Last minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he's won it.
No goal-line technology.
Goal not given.
— Goal (@goal) March 28, 2021
It cost Portugal two valuable points in their World Cup qualifying campaign and Ronaldo a 103rd international goal. Although Makkelie, who had no goal-line technology to review his decision, has owned up to his error.
“As per FIFA’s policies, all I can say is that I apologized to the national coach, Mr. Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened,” Makkelie 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.”
Portugal manager Fernando Santos also confirmed Makkelie had apologized to the team afterward and urged FIFA to bring in goal-line technology.
Ronaldo hopes to put the saga behind him by returning to the scoresheet for Portugal in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier away to Luxembourg.
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