The Portuguese Football Assocation president, Pedro Proenca, has leapt to Cristiano Ronaldo’s defence he missed Diogo Jota’s funeral.

Ronaldo, who is the national team captain, received backlash for his absence.

But some of their team-mates like Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva were present at the event.

Ronaldo is believed to have not made an appearance, as he did not want his presence to overshadow the occasion.

Proenca has now hit back at the criticism.

“And I say it again: what they said about our captain is unfair. Cristiano Ronaldo, he was one of the people who felt it the most, especially because he was a true team-mate of Jota.

“His physical absence means nothing more than that, because he never abandoned this family,” Proenca.