The captain armband discarded by Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal’s controversial 2-2 draw with Serbia in the 2022 World Cup qualifier, has been sold for over $75,000.
The armband was auctioned to help a sick child in Serbia.
Television replays showed that the Portugal captain’s shot actually crossed the line before Serbia defender, Stefan Mitrovic cleared it, but the goal was denied in the absence of goalline technology. Ronaldo was also booked for dissent as officials waved play on.
In anger, the former Real Madrid star stormed off the pitch at full time, tossing his armband away.
The captain’s armband, which was picked up by a fireman at the Red Star’s Rajko Mitic stadium, was bought by a betting company at a charity auction to help fund life-saving surgery for the six-month-old baby.
Serbia’s Mozzart said in a statement on Friday that it paid 7.5 million dinars ($75,150).
“We decided to take part in the auction because of its humanitarian nature,” Mozzart said.
“The objective was to aid toddler Gavrilo Djurdjevic as well as to raise awareness that we need to stand united in taking this kind of action.”
Baby Gavrilo Djurdjevic is suffering from spinal atrophy and his mother Nevena said the family had received donations of around 500,000 euros ($587,900) so far.
