Cristiano Ronaldo is accepting an FA charge for improper conduct (Picture: Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo has in fact accepted an FA charge of improper conduct relating to an incident in April, despite Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag suggesting otherwise.
Ronaldo was charged by the FA in September for an incident at Goodison Park at the end of last season when he slappaed a phone out of the hand of a young fan after United lost to Everton.
The charge was a breach of FA Rule E3 relating to improper and/or violent conduct and Ronaldo had until Monday to respond to it, with Ten Hag suggesting he would not be accepting the charge.
The Dutchman told a press conference: ‘We spoke about that. He will not accept it.’
However, Sportsmail report that this was a misinterpretation of the question of the question Ten Hag was asked and the United boss only meant that Ronaldo was hoping to avoid a ban for the incident and would fight any suspension, hoping for a fine or just a warning instead.
Manchester United confirmed that Ronaldo has accepted the charge, having already apologised for the incident and been given a caution by Merseyside Police for after assault and criminal damage allegations.
Ronaldo was charged after slapping a phone out of the hand of a fan (Picture: Twitter/Emily Manley)
The incident took place following United’s 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park last April.
Footage shared on social media showed the 37-year-old appearing to smash a phone out of a young fan’s hand as he left the pitch and headed towards the tunnel.
Ronaldo was cautioned by police regarding the incident in August and later issued an apology to 14- year-old Jacob Harding on his Instagram account, admitting his emotions after such a damaging result had got the better of him.
After the game, the teenager’s mum, Sarah Kelly, revealed her son suffered bruising such was the ferocity with which Ronaldo slapped the device out of his hand.
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The manager misinterpreted a question about the situation.