Al Nassr’s luminary, Cristiano Ronaldo, found himself handed a one-match suspension following an incident involving an offensive gesture during the team’s recent 3-2 triumph over Al Shabab this past Sunday.
In the aftermath of the game, social media platforms buzzed with videos capturing Ronaldo in the act. He was seen cupping his ear before repeatedly making a pumping motion with his hand in front of his pelvic area. Reuters, as cited by ESPN, reported, “The action appeared to be directed at the rival Al Shabab supporters.”
Adrian Bishop of the Daily Mail highlighted that Ronaldo’s reaction stemmed from Al-Shabab supporters chanting the name of his long-time on-field adversary, Lionel Messi, which clearly irked the Portuguese superstar.
This isn’t the first instance of Ronaldo’s controversial gestures on the Saudi Arabian field. John Duerden, reporting for the Guardian, noted a prior incident where the 39-year-old “grabbed his crotch” following a defeat against Al-Hilal in April 2023.
Moreover, earlier this month, he picked up a thrown scarf, seemingly wiped his groin with it, and then tossed it back towards the fans.
Duerden also pointed out the mounting pressure on the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) to take decisive action. Failure to discipline Ronaldo would have been perceived as favoritism toward the five-time Ballon d’Or recipient.
While Al Nassr will have to do without their seasoned forward for just one match, his absence could deal a significant blow to the club’s aspirations in the Saudi Pro League. With only seven points separating second-place Al Nassr from league leaders Al Hilal after 21 fixtures, losing further ground is something they can ill afford.
