Cristiano Ronaldo writes letter asking fan not to be punished for running onto field

Aug 10, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo (7) passes to Real Madrid Kaka (8) as Inter Milan Juan (5) defends. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was hugged by a fan who ran onto the field during an exhibition match in August. The fan, a 20-year-old college student, is now facing chargers for his actions, but Ronaldo wants to see those chargers dropped.

The Rael Madrid star explained his reasoning in the following letter (from Marca via The Telegraph):

"My name is Cristiano Ronaldo and I play for Real Madrid. I was playing in Sun Life Stadium when a fan entered the field. His name is Ronald Gjoka, a young college student. We hugged, and we spoke for a while, until security arrived to escort him off the field. He was not aggressive or violent in ANY way. What’s more, he did not put up any resistance when the security guards and police arrived. As I understand it, he has admitted his mistake and understands the importance of security. He is a young man of twenty who grew up without a father and was raised by a single mother. He attends Palm Beach State Community College, Florida, with an international student grant. I am concerned because I understand he may face problems with immigration and with his college if the criminal charges against him are not dropped. He was immediately taken to the Stadium’s security area and then spent a day and a half in jail. It seems he appeared before a judge on Monday accompanied by his attorney who asked for the charges to be dropped, but you chose to ignore his appeal. I understand your position and the importance of enforcing rules and laws. However, I respectfully request that you and your office reconsider this decision and dismiss the two criminal charges this young man faces. I would hate to see him face criminal charges for his mistake. By all accounts he has a bright future ahead of him and I’d hate to see this future ruined by an error of judgement. Thank you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at any time. Sincerely, Cristiano Ronaldo"

[Source: The Telegraph]