Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned after obscene response to Lionel Messi chants during Al Nassr’s victory over Al Shabab.
Ronaldo scored in the Saudi
Professional League match between Al Nassr and Al Shabab, helping his team win
3-1.
Throughout the game, Al Shabab
fans teased the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star with Lionel Messi
chants.
In response to the chants,
Ronaldo made a gesture towards the crowd, which quickly went viral online.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo
responded to “Messi” chants from rival Al Shabab supporters by turning towards
them, cupping his ear and repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his
pelvic area.
The committee ruled that
Ronaldo’s gesture toward Al Shabab supporters was “provoking fans” or “inciting
fans.”
Ronaldo has received a one-game
suspension and a 330,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) fine.
Ronaldo had opened the scoring,
but Al Nassr needed a late winner from Talisca to defeat Al Shabab 3-2, who
taunted Ronaldo with “Messi” chants, referring to his long-time football rival.
It’s not the first time Ronaldo
has been embroiled in controversy since moving to Saudi Arabia.
In April of last year, he
appeared to grab his genitals on his way to the dugout after a 2-0 loss to Al
Hilal in a league game.
The Disciplinary and Ethics
Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation have stated that Ronaldo will
miss Al Nassr’s next match and has also been told to pay a 30,000 Saudi Riyals
(£6,300) fine.
It has been reported that half
of the fine will be given towards Al Shabab to cover the costs of making the
complaint in the first place.
The other half of the money
will go to the Federation.
Prior to the decision, Saudi
journalist Waleed Al Farraj called for Ronaldo to be punished.
He wrote on social media: “The
disciplinary committee is facing the biggest test.
“We will wait and see.
Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are. This is how the major
leagues are.”
Back in January 2023, Ronaldo
ditched European football for the Saudi Professional League after signing for
Al Nassr on the back of his second stint with United.
Since then, clubs in Saudi
Arabia have been spending big money to lure some of Europe’s biggest names to
the Middle East.
Post a Comment