Addo claims Ghana were robbed after penalty decision in Portugal loss

‘I think it was a really wrong decision… it was a foul AGAINST us!’: Ghana boss Otto Addo claims his side were hard done by after Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded a second half penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win

• Ghana boss Otto Addo felt Portugal were wrongly given a penalty on Thursday
• Cristiano Ronaldo converted, becoming the first man to score at five World Cups
• Ronaldo’s goal was the first of the evening with the game ending 3-2 to Portugal
• Addo, 47, called Ronaldo’s record-breaking goal ‘a special gift from the referee’ 

Ghana head coach Otto Addo lamented the penalty that cost his side dearly and claimed Cristiano Ronaldo had been given a gift.

Addo was furious that referee Ismail Elfath pointed to the spot in the 63rd minute and argued that Ronaldo – who had been harshly denied a first half goal by the American official – had actually fouled Mohammed Salisu, rather than the other way around.

He said: ‘When they score the goal, the game changed. I think it was a really wrong decision. We play the ball and sure there was contact afterwards.’

Ghana boss Otto Addo felt Cristiano Ronaldo was wrongly given a penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win

Ronaldo converted from the spot, making him the first man to score at five World Cups

Asked if Ronaldo had been given the penalty due to his status, Addo replied: ‘You have to ask the referee, I have no proof of that but we were playing the ball and then there was a contact.

‘I don’t know whether they weren’t paying attention, whether the VAR wasn’t paying attention. If you look back at the scene, it is unbelievable. We were playing the ball, it was a foul against us!’

It was then put to Addo whether he had any words about Ronaldo becoming the first man to score at five World Cups. He said: ‘If somebody scores a goal congratulations but it was really a goal. A special gift from the referee.’

Ghana fought back well thanks to goals from Andre Ayew (pictured) and Osman Bukari

Addo finished by commenting that his side had been unfortunate, saying: ‘With a little bit of luck we could have reached one point.’

On his side’s prospects for the rest of the group stage, he added: ‘We have to win now and we are under pressure but then so are [our opponents].’

Ghana will next be in action against South Korea on Monday. 

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