BEVERLY HILLS, January 29, (THEWILL) – Serie A Juventus superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo is under investigation by the Italian police for alleged violation of COVID-19 rules. The probe involves a trip Ronaldo reportedly took between the regions of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
It comes from a social media post that showcased Ronaldo and his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, in a snowmobile in a mountain resort and was posted on the same day that Rodriguez turned 27 years old. The post in question has since been deleted but that has not stopped the investigation being carried out.
Italy, which was a hotbed of coronavirus spikes last year, has seen a recent surge in COVID-19 deaths and infections which has necessitated a new set of strict COVID-19 rules. Some of these new regulations forbid travel between what Italian regulators refer to as “orange zones” except for work or residence purposes.
The Valle d’Aosta police are reportedly investigating Ronaldo’s alleged trip to the Courmayeur ski resort which obviously is neither Ronaldo’s place of work or residence and, to discover if the striker contravened the “orange zone” regulation.
Reports monitored by THEWILL in the Italian media claim that Ronaldo and Rodriguez passed the night at the resort on Tuesday before returning to their Turin home. There was also another social media image of her birthday celebration with their family that Rodriguez posted back in Turin.
A confirmation that the Portuguese did in fact break the strict health and safety regulations of the Italian COVID-19 protocols, could see the 35-year-old face the penalty of a fine.
THEWILL recalls that in October, an asymptomatic Ronaldo tested positive for COVID-19. In an apparent disregard for the regulations in place that proscribed international travel, the Juventus star went on board an air ambulance and returned to Turin from Portugal’s international camp.
At the time, the action was publicly censured and criticized by Italy’s minister for sport, Vincenzo Spadafora, who berated him for making the trip after a confirmed positive test. Reference could be made to that issue if it turns out Ronaldo, for the second time, is not mindful of the need to follow health and safety guidelines in a pandemic.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
