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  4. Cristiano Ronaldo slammed for 'unacceptable' on-field tantrum, which saw him storm off the pitch and throw down his captain's armband in disgust

Cristiano Ronaldo slammed for 'unacceptable' on-field tantrum, which saw him storm off the pitch and throw down his captain's armband in disgust

Barnaby Lane   

Cristiano Ronaldo slammed for 'unacceptable' on-field tantrum, which saw him storm off the pitch and throw down his captain's armband in disgust
  • Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off the pitch before the final whistle as Portugal drew with Serbia.
  • The 36-year-old had been wrongly denied a clear winner in the game's dying moments.
  • His former international teammate Fernando Meira says his behaviour was "unacceptable."

Former Portugal international Fernando Meira says Cristiano Ronaldo's behaviour at the end of Portugal's controversial 2-2 draw with Serbia on Saturday night was "unacceptable."

Ronaldo stormed off the pitch before the final whistle and threw his captain's armband on the floor after being denied a clear winner during injury time of the World Cup Group A qualifier.

The 36-year-old had slid the ball under Serbia keeper Marko Dmitrović in the dying moments. Defender Stefan Mitrovic made a last ditch attempt to clear the ball, but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.

The goal was not awarded by referee Danny Makkelie, however, and there was no VAR or goal-line technology to check the call.

Ronaldo's angry protests to the linesman earned him a yellow card, before he left the pitch prior to the final whistle being blown.

As he stormed off the field, Ronaldo removed his captain's armband and threw it on the floor in disgust.

Watch the incident unfold here:

While it was reasonable to be angry, Meira said that Ronaldo simply went too far in his reaction.

"It's a clear goal, but Ronaldo cannot throw Portugal's captain's armband on the floor," Meira, who played alongside Ronaldo for Portugal between 2003 to 2008, told Record.

"Cristiano's reaction is natural but unacceptable for the captain of the national team. You cannot throw the captain's armband on the floor and go towards the changing room while the game is still going on.

"It's not acceptable for a player of his importance. I understand his frustration and I agree with him because the goal was valid, but the referees are the ones that have to make decisions, without VAR, and he has to set an example. And yesterday's was not one to follow."

Meira's comments were echoed by Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, who said during an appearance on ESPN that Ronaldo's actions were "too much."

"It's an overreaction. He shouldn't have reacted like this," Del Piero said on ESPN FC.

"Throwing the armband and keeping going like this, it's too much for somebody who represents as a captain and someone who's an iconic figure like him."

After the match, Ronaldo took to Instagram to explain his actions, claiming that all of Portugal was "harmed" by the goal that wasn't given.

"Being captain of the Portugal team is one of the greatest privileges of my life and fills me with pride," he said.

"I always give and will give everything for my country, that will never change. But there are difficult times to deal with, especially when we feel that an entire nation is being harmed."

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