Football Saudi Arabia
Ronaldo banned from playing after an obscene gesture – and fined 7,380 euros
As of: 08:53 a.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Cristiano Ronaldo allowed himself to be provoked by fans in the game against Al-Shabab
Quelle: picture alliance/Anadolu/Mohammed Saad
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Cristiano Ronaldo is causing a stir in Saudi Arabia – but this time less from a sporting perspective. The superstar allowed himself to be provoked by fans and made an obscene gesture. The football association gave the Portuguese a match ban and a fine – which Ronaldo got back after 19 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s obscene goal celebration has consequences. Immediately after the game between Al-Shabab and Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr (2:3) on Sunday, the Saudi Arabian Football Association initiated an investigation – and has now announced the sentence. Ronaldo will be suspended for one game and fined 30,000 Saudi riyals. So the equivalent is 7380 euros.
The scene he created out of anger triggered a wave of criticism in Saudi Arabia: Shortly after the final whistle, Al-Shabab’s home fans taunted Ronaldo, Ronaldo’s eternal rival, with chants of “Messi.” The Portuguese allowed himself to be provoked and made an obscene gesture. After the final whistle, the 39-year-old put his left hand to his ear and grabbed his crotch with his right. He made clear hand movements in the lumbar area.
According to media reports, the situation was not shown on TV, but videos of it quickly circulated on the Internet and caused outraged reactions in local media. On Wednesday, Ronaldo had to explain himself to the disciplinary and ethics committee.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyya, the Portuguese said that he “respects all clubs and this gesture means a demonstration of strength and victory in European football. We are used to making this gesture in Europe,” the superstar added to the disciplinary committee. Breaking social norms in Saudi Arabia was nevertheless punished.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now missing from the title race
The Commission’s statutes state in Article 57. 1: “Any person who causes public outrage by his act, word or gesture during a match will be suspended for one match and fined.” Ronaldo must therefore be punished for pause the duel against Al-Hazem. In the middle of the title fight he has to let his team down, Al-Nassr is seven points behind Neymar’s Al-Hilal.
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Ronaldo has to pay a third of his fine to the Saudi Football Association. The additional 20,000 riyals will go to Al-Shabab, the association at which the obscene gesture was directed, as compensation. The fine should not hurt Ronaldo much. With an annual salary of 200 million euros, it only takes 19 minutes for Ronaldo to earn almost 7,500 euros.
Ronaldo faces trouble for obscene gesture
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing trouble with the Saudi Football Association. After the final whistle of a league game with his club Al-Nassr, the 39-year-old reacted to fan provocations with obscene gestures.
The last time Ronaldo caused a big scandal was when he was wearing a Manchester United jersey. The Portuguese only sat on the bench in October 2022 – and stamped angrily into the dressing room before the final whistle, even though United could have made two changes at the time of the game. The superstar was suspended for one game by team manager Erik ten Hag.
