UK/PORTUGAL: SOCCER - Star Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo calls for the return of missing British child

Record ID: 640869

  • Title: UK/PORTUGAL: SOCCER - Star Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo calls for the return of missing British child
  • Date: 10th May 2007
  • Summary: (EU) LAGOS, PORTUGAL (MAY 8, 2007) (REUTERS) FAMILY WITH CHILD WALKING IN STREET LUZ MAIN STREET
  • Embargoed: 25th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3CMIKL49BJ4W2KEBBKIDXV2T8
  • Story Text: Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo appeals for the release of missing three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann, who is thought to have been snatched from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve, last Thursday. As Portuguese police and dozens of tourists searched for Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old British girl who vanished from her bed five days ago in southern Portugal, on Tuesday (May 8) star Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who comes from Portugal, called for her return.
    Madeleine is believed to have been abducted from a holiday apartment last Thursday (May 3) in Praia da Luz, a popular resort in the Algarve, just yards away from where her parents were dining.
    Madeleine's parents have insisted it was an abduction because there was evidence of a forced entry in the bedroom where she was sleeping with her two-year-old twin brother and sister.
    Speaking in English, Ronaldo said, "I was very upset to hear of the abduction of Madeleine McCann. I appeal to anyone with information to come forward, please, come forward."
    Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha reported that police are investigating whether a paedophile ring ordered the kidnap of the little girl.
    Correio da Manha quoted unidentified police sources as saying that the possibility that the kidnap was ordered by an international paedophile network of British origin was one of the most consistent leads police were investigating.
    Speaking in his native language, Ronaldo spoke of his sadness at hearing the news. "I think we are all sad with what happened with Madeleine McCann," he said, calling "for anyone with information to come forward, Please, if anybody has any kind of information, and I think this is important for all of us, please, I repeat once more, if anybody has any information, please tell us."
    The McCanns have made four televised appeals since their daughter's disappearance, calling for her return unharmed.
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