Cristiano Ronaldo, star Al-Nassr forward, has been punished by the Saudi Football Association for making an inappropriate gesture towards fans who were chanting Lionel Messi’s name.
So What Happened?
Cristiano Ronaldo faced the familiar chants of his Argentine counterpart from opposing fans during Sunday night’s match. Despite scoring in a 3-2 victory for Al-Nassr over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo was evidently unsettled by Messi-related chants from the home crowd. In response, he gestured towards his crotch, drawing immediate criticism. Subsequently, reports suggest that Ronaldo has been disciplined for his actions.
As reported by Saudi media through the Daily Mail, Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a two-match suspension and an undisclosed fine for his explicit gesture. Despite the financial penalty being inconsequential given his annual salary of £175 million ($222 million), the ban poses a setback for both Ronaldo and his team. He is set to be absent from Al-Nassr’s upcoming league match against Al-Hazm on Thursday, and there’s a possibility he may also miss the AFC Champions League quarter-final clash scheduled for the following week.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s response on Sunday was undeniably unexpected, not only due to the typical player tendency to overlook taunts from opposing fans but also considering that chants in favor of Messi have been a regular occurrence during his 14-month tenure in the Middle East. Additionally, this incident is not the initial instance of Ronaldo facing criticism for an explicit gesture, as he managed to evade repercussions for a similar crotch-grabbing incident back in April 2023.
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo?
Though the specifics of the suspension are still pending confirmation, it appears that Cristiano Ronaldo is poised for a period of inactivity. If the reports from Saudi Arabia are accurate, the Portuguese forward is anticipated to return to action on March 7, when Al-Nassr is scheduled to host Al-Raed in a league match.
