Saudi Arabia’s football governing body took disciplinary action against Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday, suspending him for one game and imposing a fine of 30,000 riyals ($8,000) for a gesture deemed provocative during a recent match.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced the sanctions against Ronaldo, who captains Al-Nassr and is renowned for his past stints with Sporting Lisbon. The decision, which stems from regulations prohibiting actions that incite the public during games, is final and not subject to appeal.
The incident in question occurred during Al-Nassr’s 3-2 victory against Al-Shabab last weekend. Video footage surfaced afterward, capturing Ronaldo making repeated thrusting gestures toward his groin in response to chants from spectators invoking the name of his long-standing rival, Lionel Messi.
The footage quickly spread across social media platforms in Saudi Arabia, sparking widespread discussion. Sports newspaper Al-Riyadiya quoted Ronaldo as stating that he holds respect for all football clubs and that his gesture symbolized “strength and victory” rather than any intent to cause offense, asserting that such actions are considered acceptable in European football culture.
