Manchester United intend to support Cristiano Ronaldo through his upcoming FA improper conduct hearing and will offer some mitigating facts, with the 37-year-old facing punishment for appearing to knock a phone out of the hands of an Everton fan last season.

Ronaldo, 37, has been charged with a breach of rule E3 by the FA, which relates to improper and/or violent conduct.

The charge relates to an incident in April, when Ronaldo appeared to knock a phone out of a young Everton supporter’s hands as he made his way to the Goodison Park dressing rooms at the end of a 1-0 defeat.

When asked about the FA charge ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League match against Omonoia Nicosia, Ten Hag appeared to suggest Ronaldo would not accept the charge, saying: “We will talk about that and he will not accept it.”

But sources close to the club later clarified Ten Hag’s comments and denied that Ronaldo would contest the FA charge.
The case will now proceed to an FA hearing.