West Ham star Dimitri Payet recently joked that he had forbidden his sons from uttering the name "Cristiano Ronaldo" after the Portuguese icon defeated his French team in the final of Euro 2016.
It was an innocent joke, with Payet saying "they (my sons) are not allowed to say Ronaldo's name." The response he's received from some, however, has Payet retreating and clarifying to RMC that he was not actually being serious.
"It was said as a joke, but today, there is so much buzz where articles have to be written, things have to be spiced up," he said, as quoted by ESPN FC. "It's unfortunate, and you have to take care.
"For me, there was no controversy. But perhaps I've had some death threats from Portuguese people on social media."
"The only thing I can reproach him for is having lifted the trophy in our place. I have nothing against him. I also think that the controversy has stemmed from the fact where he got injured in the game after contact with me.
"My children are at an age where they adore Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi, and Neymar. Of course they do, they're the best players in the world, so I don't see why I would forbid that to my son."