Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘very difficult’ and ‘complains a lot’, claims referee who became embroiled in a heated tunnel spat with the Al-Nassr star

A referee who became engaged in a spat with Cristiano Ronaldo has detailed his experiences working with the Portugugal superstar.

Said Martinez has officiated a number of games involving Ronaldo throughout his career but recalled one particularly fiery incident involving the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Martinez claimed that he was refereeing a Saudi Pro League game featuring Ronaldo’s Al Nassr when he disallowed two of the 39-year-old’s goals for offside.

An irate Ronaldo reportedly made his feelings surrounding the quality of Martinez’s officiating clear to the Honduran at half-time before later reaching out to him to apologise.

‘Cristiano Ronaldo is very difficult due to his temperament,’ Martinez told Mediotiempo. 

Said Martinez (pictured) claimed Ronaldo became irate after two goals were ruled out by VAR

But he added that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner later apologised for his role in the incident

‘He is a very competitive person, which makes him feel there’s a lot of injustice towards him, so he complains a lot.

‘We disallowed two goals for him, with VAR and everything, but there was a play that upset him because he felt he was fouled in attack, leading to a goal against them. They were losing.

He continued: ‘He stayed 10 metres away from me and said: “It’s always the same with you lot, you always think you’re the stars, but we don’t bring you here to be the stars, we are the stars”, in perfect Spanish.

‘He started calmly but then got agitated and I just looked at him provocatively to see if he would get closer to me, but he didn’t.’

Martinez checked footage of the disallowed goals following the full-time whistle and later spoke to Ronaldo about their disagreement in the tunnel, with the Al Nassr captain offering an apology for how he behaved.

‘After checking the VAR, I asked him to come closer. Cristiano is Cristiano, and if he doesn’t want to come, he won’t,’ Martinez added. 

Ronaldo is reported to have told Martinez during their spat that referees ‘think they’re the stars’ 

‘But he came over to where I was and I said to him: “You’re a great player, but what you said at half-time isn’t right. I respect you a lot, but we’re here to do our job just like you are”.

‘He replied: “Yes, you’re right; it wasn’t the right way to express myself. I apologise”. Yes, he apologised to me and didn’t complain about anything in the second half and even scored a fantastic free-kick goal.”