Saudi League game resulted in Ronaldo's match suspension for making a vulgar motion
Ronaldo is said to have made the gesture vulgar to 'Messi' chants from Al-Shabab supporters following their Sunday Saudi Pro League match.
Ankush Pandey
Due to an alleged disrespectful gesture he made while playing for Al Nassr in a Saudi Pro League match, Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match.
The video appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his palm forward near his pelvis, seemingly directed at Al-Shabab supporters after Al Nassr upset their rivals Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday.
There were background cries of "Messi," which alluded to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's longtime nemesis in football.
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee declared the ban early on Thursday. The following league matchup for Al Nassr comes on Thursday night at home against Al-Hazem.
In addition, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player must pay half of the penalties to the federation and 20,000 Saudi Riyals (about $5,333) to Al-Shabab to reimburse the costs of the club's complaint filing.
The committee declared that there was no room for appeal of the ruling.
Even though the incident escaped the notice of television cameras, pundits and former players in Saudi Arabia harshly denounced the move.
Since joining Al Nassr, the Portuguese forward has been the subject of controversy on several occasions. As supporters sang Messi's name last April, Ronaldo seemed to touch his genitalia as he left the pitch following a match against Al Hilal. At that time, Al Nassr reported that the forward had been hurt in the game in the groin.
Ronaldo, who joined the Riyadh-based team in December 2022, leads the league in goals scored with 22. He scored the first goal—a penalty in the first half—against Al-Shabab.
In addition, Al Nassr—a team that has never won a championship—is in the Asian Champions League quarterfinals.
