Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off with a red card in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final and caused outrage with his reaction to the decision. When the score was 0-2, the former European champion from Portugal got into a scuffle with his opponent on Monday evening and pushed him to the ground – for which he received a red card in the 86th minute.
Video images show Ronaldo clenching his hand into a fist, raising it above his head and taking half a step towards the referee. The referee had already averted his gaze. Ronaldo then mockingly applauded and gave the thumbs up several times.
“We’re not slowing down!”
His club Al-Nasr came close in stoppage time thanks to former Bayern professional Sadio Mané (90th + 9 minutes), but still lost to rivals Al-Hilal and missed out on a place in the Mini final, which was held for the first time in Abu Dhabi Saudi Super Cup tournament.
Things have actually been going well for Ronaldo recently. Even at the age of 39, he proved his goalscoring qualities in the Saudi league. Last Tuesday, the multiple world footballer scored three goals in a game for the second time in Al-Nassr’s 8-0 win over Abha – within 72 hours.
Jürgen Kalwa, New York Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 A comment from David Lindenfeld Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2 Alexis Menuge, Paris Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3
“We’re not slowing down!” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram after the game. The Portuguese international scored his goals in the first half and also provided two assists for the nine-time Saudi Arabian champions, who, in second place, are twelve points behind leaders Al-Hilal with eight games to go.
Ronaldo had already scored three times in the 5-1 win over Al-Tai on Saturday, and he has managed this three times so far this season. Ronaldo leads the league as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals. Against Abha, Ronaldo scored twice with a free kick (11th minute/21st). After half an hour he set up former Bayern professional Sadio Mané to make it 3-0. He scored again three minutes before half-time before setting up Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim to make it 5-0. Ronaldo was substituted after the break.
