Cristiano Ronaldo suspended for one match over alleged offensive gesture in Saudi league sport

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo. File
| Picture Credit score: AP

Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match for making an alleged offensive gesture throughout a Saudi Arabia league sport whereas enjoying for Al Nassr within the Saudi Professional League.

After Al-Nassr defeated Riyadh rival Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday, video footage appeared to indicate Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand ahead close to his pelvis, in a gesture that appeared to be geared toward Al-Shabab followers.

Background chants of “Messi,” referencing Ronaldo’s longstanding soccer rival Lionel Messi, may very well be heard.

The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Soccer Federation (SAFF) committee introduced the ban on social media early Thursday morning native time. Al-Nassr’s subsequent league sport is at dwelling to Al-Hazm on Thursday.

The previous Actual Madrid and Manchester United star can even should pay a advantageous of 20,000 Saudi Riyals ( $5,333) to Al-Shabab, to cowl the prices of the membership submitting the grievance, and half of that quantity to the federation.

The committee mentioned that the choice was not open to enchantment.

Whereas the incident was not captured by tv cameras, the actions of Ronaldo, who scored a first-half penalty within the sport, had been broadly criticized in Saudi Arabia by former gamers and commentators.

In line with stories within the Saudi Arabia media, the 39-year-old advised the committee that the gesture was certainly one of victory and customary in Europe.

It isn’t the primary time that the Portuguese ahead has been on the middle of controversy since becoming a member of Al-Nassr. Final April, upon leaving the sphere after a sport towards Al-Hilal, Ronaldo appeared to seize his genitals as followers chanted Messi’s title. On that event, Al-Nassr mentioned that the ahead had sustained a groin damage within the match.

Ronaldo, who moved to the Riyadh-based membership in December 2022, has a league-leading 22 objectives. His scored the opener towards Al Shabab, a first-half penalty.

Al Nassr can also be within the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, a event it has by no means received.