Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with a one-match suspension following an alleged offensive gesture made during a recent Saudi Pro League match. Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Arabia league, appeared to cup his ear and make a thrusting motion near his pelvis towards Al-Shabab fans after his team's victory of 3-2 against their Riyadh rivals on Sunday. The incident was captured on video footage and caused a stir in Saudi Arabia, with chants of "Messi" heard in the background, referring to Ronaldo's long-standing rival Lionel Messi.
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) announced the ban on social media, stating that Ronaldo will be suspended for one match. Alongside the suspension, Ronaldo has also been instructed to pay a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals (equivalent to $5,333) to Al-Shabab, compensating for the costs incurred by the club while filing the complaint. Additionally, Ronaldo must pay half of that fine to the federation. The committee has made it clear that the decision is not open to appeal.
Although the incident was not captured by television cameras, it quickly sparked widespread criticism in Saudi Arabia. Former players and commentators expressed their disapproval of Ronaldo's actions. However, according to reports in the Saudi Arabian media, the 39-year-old player defended himself by stating that the gesture was simply a sign of victory and is common in European football.
This is not the first time Ronaldo has found himself at the center of controversy since joining Al Nassr. Last April, during a match against Al-Hilal, Ronaldo appeared to grab his genitals upon leaving the field while fans chanted Messi's name. At that time, Al Nassr claimed that Ronaldo had suffered a groin injury during the match to explain his actions.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December 2022, currently leads the Saudi Pro League with an impressive tally of 22 goals. Despite the controversy surrounding him, he continues to perform at a high level. In the match against Al-Shabab, Ronaldo scored the opener with a first-half penalty.
In addition to his domestic league commitments, Ronaldo's Al Nassr team is competing in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League. Although Al Nassr is yet to secure a victory in the tournament's history, the inclusion of Ronaldo brings hope for success. As the league's top scorer, Ronaldo's absence due to his suspension will undoubtedly be felt by his team.