Ronaldo explains offensive gesture

Cristiano Ronaldo has explained his one-fingered salute to hecklers before Portugal’s Euro 2012 play-off clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ronaldo was criticised by fans during a training session

before Friday’s first leg match, which ended in a goalless draw.

A group of supporters jeered the forward and chanted the name of Barcelona star

Lionel Messi before pointing lasers at him.

The Real Madrid striker responded by raising his middle fingers to the fans

jeering him.

“Everyone is speaking badly of me, but why don’t people criticise the

lasers that were being aimed into my eyes,” Ronaldo said. “They

behaved in that way and so I reacted in my own way.”

The incidents continued when Portugal played Bosnia, but Ronaldo was less

aggressive.

“I tried to keep calm as I knew that I could have been booked if I let the

fans get to me,” he said.

Portugal play the second leg on Tuesday night in Lisbon.