Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football legend, finds himself in hot water once again. He received a one-match ban and a hefty fine for an obscene gesture directed towards fans following his team’s Al Nassr victory against Al Shabab.
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What Gesture Cristiano Ronaldo Did?
The controversy unfolded after Al Nassr’s narrow 3-2 win over Al Shabab on Sunday. As the final whistle blew, Ronaldo, seemingly reacting to chants of “Messi” from the opposing fans, cupped his ear and then made a repeated pumping motion with his hand in front of his pelvic area. This gesture, deemed offensive by many, landed him in trouble with the Saudi Football Federation.
🚨🚨| Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be INVESTIGATED for a gesture he made towards fans chanting for Lionel Messi.
[@MailSport] pic.twitter.com/2ZJd97Y6jr— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) February 26, 2024
The Punishment
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation took swift action, suspending Ronaldo for one match and imposing a fine of 30,000 Saudi riyals (approximately $8,000). The fine is divided, with 10,000 riyals going to the Saudi Football Federation and 20,000 riyals being paid directly to Al Shabab, presumably to cover the costs associated with filing the complaint.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time Ronaldo has been embroiled in controversy surrounding similar gestures. During the pre-season, following a match against Al Hilal, he was seen grabbing his genitals after fans chanted Lionel Messi’s name. While defending his actions, Al Nassr claimed that Ronaldo had sustained a groin injury during the game. Additionally, in the same pre-season match, a fan threw an Al Hilal shawl at Ronaldo, which he picked up, pointed towards his crotch, and then threw away. This incident also sparked outrage among fans.
A Pattern of Behavior?
These repeated incidents raise concerns about a potential pattern of behaviour for Ronaldo. While he claims the gesture in question is a common celebration in Europe, it appears to be used specifically in response to taunts about his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi. This behaviour not only reflects poorly on Ronaldo but also tarnishes the image of his team and the sport in general.
Despite the controversy, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season, with an impressive 22 goals, including the opening penalty in the match against Al Shabab. However, this one-match ban will disrupt his momentum and potentially affect Al Nassr’s performance in the upcoming game.
Star players like Cristiano Ronaldo must uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and avoid actions that could be construed as offensive or disrespectful. As Ronaldo continues his journey in Saudi Arabia, it will be interesting to see if he can learn from this experience and navigate the challenges that come with being a global sporting icon.
