Ronaldo Suspended for One Match by Saudi Football Federation

Portuguese football star and forward player for Al Nassr Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match and fined SAR 10,000 for making an obscene gesture at the end of a game during the weekend. 

When Al Nassr won against Al Shabab area, the crowd kept chanting football star Lionel Messi Jr.'s name. 

Ronaldo first cupped his ear in response, but then he repeatedly thrust his hand towards his pelvic area.

The television cameras did not capture it, but many fans recorded him and the video has gone viral on social media since. 

Early on Thursday, Feb. 29, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced that Ronaldo has been suspended from one match and will have to pay SAR 20,000 to Al Shabab for the costs of filing the complaint. 

The football star will also have to pay the Saudi Football Federation SAR 10,000 and the federation emphasized that their decision will not be open to appeal. 

According to reports, Ronaldo explained to the committee that the gesture was common in Europe and used to convey victory. 

This is not the first time that complaints have been filed against Ronaldo in the Kingdom. 

In April 2023, he was accused of making an obscene gesture to Al Hilal fans and in February 2024, Ronaldo reacted to an Al Hilal scarf being thrown at him by shoving it in his shorts and then throwing back the scarf at the stands. 

Ronaldo is expected to return to Al Nassr's lineup for Monday's Asian Champions League quarter-final first leg in Al Ain.