Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for one game for making an offensive gesture towards the opposing team’s fans during the last match of the Saudi Football League.
The suspension was announced Wednesday night in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, Al Nassr, had beaten Al Shabab 2-3 away on Sunday.
In a game counting for the 21st round, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring, with a penalty, in the 20th minute, with Belgian Yannick Carrasco equalizing for Al Shabab at 45+8, also from the 11 meter mark.
Right at the start of the second half, at 47, Portuguese international Otávio served Brazilian Talisca, who took Al Nassr ahead on the scoreboard, but the hosts responded again, this time by Canarian striker Carlos Junior.
The winning goal only came in the 87th minute, again by Talisca, sealing the victory for Al Nassr, a team coached by the Portuguese Luís Castro.
Videos published on social media appear to show the Portuguese striker cupping one hand over his ear and moving the other repeatedly, close to his genitals, towards the fans of Al Shabab, coached by Portuguese Vítor Pereira.
According to the videos, at the time the 39-year-old Portuguese made the offensive gesture, the home team’s fans were chanting “Messi”, in reference to Argentine footballer Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo is therefore expected to miss Al Nassr’s next match, scheduled for today, at home, against Al Hazm, the last placed team in the Saudi League.
Al Nassr is second, with 52 points, seven less than leader Al Hilal, which has two Portuguese players, coach Jorge Jesus and midfielder Rúben Neves.
This season, Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 21 goals in the 19 Saudi League matches he has played, adding one more in the Saudi Arabian Cup, five in the Asian Champions League and 10 for the Portuguese national team, for a total of 37.
2024-02-29 08:11:56
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