Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture following the end of Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in an exciting Saudi Pro League game.
The Portugal forward opened the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty, but Al-Nassr needed a late goal from Brazilian Talisca, who struck twice, to settle the game with four minutes left.
After the final whistle, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at the rival Al-Shabab supporters.
Photo: Reuters
In the background, chants of “Messi” could be heard, referencing Ronaldo’s long-term soccer rival from Argentina.
The incident was not caught on television cameras, but some Saudi Arabian pundits said Ronaldo should be sanctioned.
Saudi Arabian newspaper Asharq al-Awsat said that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation had opened an investigation into the incident.
“The disciplinary committee is facing the biggest test. We will wait and see,” Waleed al-Farraj, a prominent Saudi Arabian writer and television host, wrote on X. “Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are. This is how the major leagues are.”
The 39-year-old Ronaldo has faced similar criticism in the past. In April last year, he appeared to grab his genitals while on his way to the dugout following the end of a league game against Al-Hilal, which Al-Nassr lost 2-0.
Earlier this month, he picked up an Al-Hilal scarf thrown at him from the stands, put it in his shorts and then threw it away as he walked toward the tunnel after Al-Nassr lost 2-0 in the Riyadh Season Cup final.
Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr as a free agent in late 2022, tops the Saudi Arabian league scoring charts with 22 goals in 20 appearances so far this season.
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