Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been sanctioned with a one-match ban and a fine of 30,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) for what has been deemed as “provoking fans” during a recent Saudi Pro League match against Al-Shabab.
The incident occurred following Al-Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab in Riyadh, where supporters of the opposing team chanted the name of Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Lionel Messi.
In response, the Portugal captain, aged 39, was seen cupping his hand to his ear and making a gesture towards the fans.
The SAFF disciplinary and ethics committee has made it clear that Ronaldo cannot appeal against the decision, solidifying the severity of the punishment.
Ronaldo’s gesture came after he opened the scoring for Al-Nassr from the penalty spot, only to witness Al-Shabab rallying twice to level the score, with Talisca securing a late 87th-minute winner.
Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr on a free transfer from Manchester United in December 2022, has been a prolific scorer for the club, netting an impressive 20 goals in 22 league appearances this season.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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