By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 2 hours ago, Updated 17 minutes ago
Cristiano Ronaldo in the colors of Al Nassr. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo will receive a one-match suspension for provoking opposing fans during a match in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for one match for “provoked” supporters of the opposing team by making an obscene gesture during a Saudi championship match, announced the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation.
After the 3-2 victory on Sunday for his club Al-Nassr against Al-Shabab, the Portuguese striker turned towards the opposing supporters, who had chanted the name of Lionel Messi throughout the match, then he listened to them and made an obscene movement with his right hand, prompting the Al-Shabab leaders to file a complaint.
“Ronaldo violated article (57-1) of the disciplinary and ethics regulations and was suspended for one match among all official matches in which he is entitled to participate”, indicated the Discipline and Ethics Committee in a press release published Wednesday evening. This article sanctions any «provocation» of the public during a match.
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Around 7,200 euros fine
The player was also fined 10,000 Saudi riyals (around 2,400 euros) and paid 20,000 riyals (4,800 euros) to Al-Shabab to cover the costs of the procedure. This decision cannot be appealed.
The quintuple golden ball gesture caused much ink to flow in the conservative Gulf kingdom, where it was described as shocking by some commentators. Ronaldo had already made a name for himself on February 9, after Al-Nasr’s defeat against Al-Hilal, when he slipped a jersey thrown by opposing supporters into his shorts, before throwing it back into the stands.
