Saudi Arabia’s football governing body has suspended Cristiano Ronaldo for one game over a gesture he made on the pitch last weekend that was judged “provocative.”
A video emerged after his side’s 3-2 win against Al-Shabab, showing Ronaldo making a repeated thrusting gesture towards his groin in response to crowds who were taunting him by chanting the name of his long time rival, Lionel Messi.
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) committee announced the ban on social media early today morning, February 29, local time.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star will also have to pay a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals ($5,333) to Al-Shabab to cover the costs of the club filing the complaint, and half of that amount to the federation.
Although television cameras did not record the incident, former players and commentators in Saudi Arabia heavily criticized Ronaldo’s actions after he scored a penalty in the first half of the game.
According to reports in the Saudi Arabian media, the 39-year-old Ronaldo told the committee that the gesture was one of victory and common in Europe.
Ronaldo, who moved to the Riyadh-based club in December 2022, has a league-leading 22 goals.
He scored the opener against Al Shabab, a first-half penalty.
Al Nassr is also in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, a tournament it has never won.
Source: Persecond news.
