BREAKING NEWS: Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has criticized the BBC for their on-air joke about Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty miss at Euro 2024

Former England captain John Terry has criticized the BBC for their insensitive and mocking coverage of Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty during the Portugal vs. Slovenia semifinal match at the 2024 European Championship.

Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly upset and cried after his penalty kick was saved by Slovenia’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak. However, the BBC made fun of Ronaldo by using the caption “Missiano Penaldo” during their analysis of the missed penalty.

John Terry, who shared a picture of this caption on his Instagram, called the BBC’s words a “disgrace.” He expressed his disappointment at how the BBC made fun of Ronaldo during such an emotional moment.

Terry’s criticism shows the importance of being more understanding and respectful in sports journalism, especially when dealing with athletes’ emotional moments. Ronaldo’s tears were a clear sign of how much pressure and emotional effort top athletes like him put into their performance.

The missed penalty was a significant setback for Portugal’s chances of moving forward in the tournament, and Ronaldo’s emotional reaction was a natural response to his disappointment and frustration.

By mocking Ronaldo’s tears, the BBC’s caption encouraged a harmful culture of ridicule in sports, where athletes often face harsh and unforgiving scrutiny.

Terry’s criticism serves as an important reminder that athletes are humans too, deserving of respect, empathy, and understanding, even when they fail or show vulnerability.

John Terry’s strong disapproval of the BBC’s coverage is a call for greater sensitivity and respect in sports journalism. By speaking out against mocking athletes, Terry has emphasized the need for a more compassionate and empathetic approach to sports coverage, recognizing the humanity and vulnerability of athletes like Ronaldo.