Sunday Oliseh has described Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort to win a penalty for Portugal against Ghana at the Qatar 2022 World Cup as a smart move.
The referee awarded a contentious penalty to Portugal on Thursday as Ronaldo went to ground from a challenge with Muhammed Salisu and Ghana protested vehemently.
Replays showed that the contact was minimal but the referee was not invited by the Video Assistant Referee to have a second look at the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Fans and even former Premier League referee Mike Dean insisted the penalty should not have been awarded, and Ghana coach Otto Addo insinuated that Ronaldo used his superstar status to earn the spot kick.
“The referee gave a penalty which was not a penalty – everyone saw that. Why? Because it’s Ronaldo or something?
“The referee was not in our favour,” Addo told BeIN Sports.
However former Super Eagles midfielder Oliseh, who played at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, believes Ronaldo was clever in his movement to win the penalty that allowed him to score his 118th international goal.
“Maybe the strikers are getting smarter?” said Oliseh, who is a member of FIFA’s Technical Study Group for the World Cup in Qatar.
“The Ronaldo penalty, people can say what they want about him, but the smartness to wait for that second, to touch the ball, continue his leg and then get the contact. That is total genius.
“Let’s give strikers the compliment for getting smarter. VAR is also a major reason why this (more penalties being awarded) is happening. Referees can look at it three or four times.”
Portugal will face Uruguay tomorrow while Ghana battle South Korea in the afternoon in the second round of Group H fixtures.
