Image source, @ MichaelLobo76
During the inauguration of the statue, several people waved black flags in protest, the Times of India reported.
The recently unveiled statue of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has had pros and cons in India.
In the state of Goa, where soccer is very popular, officials hope the golden statue will inspire young people.
However, Goa is also a former Portuguese colony, and the statue was erected 60 years after the country was liberated from Portugal.
Its critics say that the local footballers should be respected, especially since some members of the Indian national team were and are Goans.
“I am very disappointed to hear that the Ronaldo statue has been erected. Learn to be proud of our own icons like Samir Naik and Bruno Coutinho,” a Goan resident told IANS.
During the inauguration of the statue, several people waved black flags in protest, the newspaper reported Times of India.
Image source, AFP
In 2017, the statue of Ronaldo was ridiculed in Madeira Airport, Portugal, so it was eventually replaced.
The Portuguese soccer team is very popular in Goa and due to its colonial past, many locals have lived or had families in Portugal.
But some in the Indian state felt humiliated to install the statue during the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of Goa’s final independence from Portuguese rule.
This was realized 14 years after the independence of the other states of India from British rule.
“It is immoral to erect a statue of a Portuguese footballer this year. We condemn it,” said far-right activist Guru Shirodkar, as quoted by IANS.
“There are many independence fighters in Goa who have been insulted,” he added.
Michael Lobo, a local MP for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tweeted Twitterby posting a photo of himself with the statue.
Image source, Pedro Fiuza / Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Manchester United, is adored by many fans and is widely recognized as one of the best players in football history.
He said the statue was erected “at the request of our youth” to inspire them to “take football to new heights”.
While cricket remains the most popular sport in India, soccer – especially the English Premier League – is popular in a number of regions of the country – Kerala in the south, Goa in the west, West Bengal in the east, and all of the other eight states.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Manchester United, is adored by many fans and considered by many to be one of the best players in football history.
The 36-year-old striker has not commented publicly on the statue’s whereabouts.
This is not the first time his statue has drawn criticism.
In 2017, many made fun of the Ronaldo statue in Madeira Airport, so it was finally replaced.
Local residents react to a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo at Madeira Airport in Portugal.
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