South Korean fans call for ‘No Ronaldo’ ban after Juventus star sits out Seoul match

First ‘No Japan’, now ‘No Ronaldo’ after the football star fails to play during highly anticipated match

Meanwhile, Japanese fans praise his absence as ill feeling between two countries deepens

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Signs and slogans used in the ‘Boycott Japan’ movement have been repurposed and now read ‘Boycott Ronaldo’. Photo: Twitter

Published: 4:16pm, 1 Aug 2019Updated: 4:30pm, 1 Aug 2019

South Koreans have in the past month thrown their support behind a boycott of Japanese products amid the deepening diplomatic and trade dispute. Now footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has become the face of a new ban led by fans who feel jilted by his failure to take the field for last week’s match between Italian giant Juventus and the K League All-Stars in Seoul.

Signs and slogans used in the “Boycott Japan” movement have been repurposed and now read “Boycott Ronaldo”. Across South Korean social media, the hashtag “Ronaldo no-show” began trending as fans mobilised to boycott products endorsed by the Portuguese star.

“Safe to say, no Koreans will ever cheer for Juventus or Ronaldo ever again,” Woosang Lee tweeted.

Cristiano Ronaldo on the Juventus bench in Seoul. Photo: AFP

Others visited Ronaldo’s Instagram page to express their displeasure, with one commenter insisting:

“You came to Korea and disappointed so many children, and ruined the lives of many people. You have to apologise to your Korean fans right away.”

Nearly 80 per cent of 501 Koreans surveyed stated they would never again support Ronaldo, according to polling firm Realmeter.

The boycott has affected the star’s popularity and product sales, according to local reports. Ronaldo’s character in the game Fifa Online 4 has become highly unpopular among Korean users. Meanwhile, fans are no longer purchasing the soccer star’s jerseys, leaving hundreds unsold on local sites.

South Korean fans call for ‘No Ronaldo’ ban after Juventus star sits out Seoul match

First ‘No Japan’, now ‘No Ronaldo’ after the football star fails to play during highly anticipated match Meanwhile, Japanese fans praise his absence as ill feeling between two countries deepens

First ‘No Japan’, now ‘No Ronaldo’ after the football star fails to play during highly anticipated match

Meanwhile, Japanese fans praise his absence as ill feeling between two countries deepens