Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a one-match suspension by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) following an incident during a recent Saudi Pro League game while representing Al Nassr.
The incident occurred following Al Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Riyadh rival Al-Shabab on Sunday. Video footage surfaced showing Ronaldo allegedly making a provocative gesture towards Al-Shabab fans by cupping his ear and making a repeated hand motion near his pelvis. The background chants of “Messi,” alluding to Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi, further fueled the controversy surrounding the incident.
As a result of the disciplinary action, Ronaldo will miss Al Nassr’s upcoming league fixture against Al-Hazm and is also required to pay a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals ($5,333) to Al-Shabab, covering the club’s complaint expenses, along with half of that amount to the federation. The decision, announced on social media by the SAFF committee, is final and not subject to appeal.
Although the gesture was not captured by television cameras, it drew widespread criticism in Saudi Arabia from former players and pundits. Ronaldo, however, reportedly defended his actions to the committee, describing the gesture as a common celebratory move in European football.
This isn’t the first time Ronaldo has courted controversy since joining Al Nassr in December 2022. In a previous incident last April, he was seen making a similar gesture as he exited the field after a match against Al-Hilal, coinciding with chants of Messi’s name from the opposing fans. At that time, Al Nassr attributed Ronaldo’s actions to a groin injury sustained during the game.
Despite the off-field distractions, Ronaldo has been a standout performer for Al Nassr, leading the league’s scoring charts with 22 goals. His contribution was evident in the recent victory over Al-Shabab, where he scored the opening goal from a first-half penalty.
Beyond domestic competitions, Al Nassr finds itself in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, aiming to clinch a title that has thus far eluded them.
As Ronaldo’s suspension takes effect and Al Nassr navigates through the remainder of their season, the incident serves as a reminder of the intense passion and scrutiny surrounding the sport, even in distant corners of the globe like Saudi Arabia.