Ronaldo suspended for one match for obscene gesture in Saudi league game
Al Jazeera
Ronaldo made the alleged gesture in response to Al-Shabab fans’ chants of ‘Messi’ after their Saudi Pro League game.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match for making an alleged offensive gesture during a Saudi Pro League game while playing for Al Nassr.
After Al Nassr defeated their Riyadh rivals Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday, video footage appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis, in a gesture that seemed to be aimed at Al-Shabab fans.
Background chants of “Messi,” referencing Ronaldo’s longstanding football rival Lionel Messi, could be heard.
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) committee announced the ban on Thursday morning. Al Nassr’s next league game is at home to Al-Hazem on Thursday evening.
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.
