The Black Stars showed superb resistance to group H favourites Portugal but the Euro 2016 champions ended up taking all three points yesterday evening. The African team had their share of questions for the referee, especially Ghana head coach Otto Addo.Black Stars boss lamented the penalty that cost his side dearly and claimed Cristiano Ronaldo had been given a gift.He 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.‘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.’, Addo said.🇬🇭Coach Otto Addo 🗣 “The VAR , I don’t know what they were doing ? Sleeping?pic.twitter.com/Wy4v1kBa1z— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) November 25, 2022 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.”The referee gave a penalty which was not a penalty. Everyone saw that. Why? Because it’s Ronaldo or something?”, he said.”If somebody scores a goal, congratulations,” Addo said. “But this was really a gift. Really a gift. What more can I say? [It was] a special gift from the referee.”Ronaldo makes history as Portugal edge Ghana in five goal thrillerAddo closed the subject by commenting that his side had been unfortunate, saying: ‘With a little bit of luck we could have reached one point.’Ghana will next be in action against South Korea on Monday. ‘We have to win now and we are under pressure but then so are [our opponents].’ he added on his side’s prospects for the rest of the group stage.
