Ronaldo makes offensive gesture during Saudi League game, suspended for one match

Due to an alleged disrespectful gesture he made while playing for Al Nassr in a Saudi League match, Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match.  

Video appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his palm forward near his pelvis, seemingly directed at Al-Shabab supporters, after Al Nassr upset their rivals Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday. 

There were background cries of "Messi," which alluded to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's longtime nemesis in football.  

The Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee declared the ban early on Thursday. The following league matchup for Al Nassr comes on Thursday night at home against Al-Hazem. 

In addition, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player must pay half of the penalties to the federation and 20,000 Saudi Riyals (about $5,333) to Al-Shabab to reimburse the costs of the club's complaint filing.  

The committee declared that there was no room for appeal of the ruling.  

Even though the incident escaped the notice of television cameras, pundits and former players in Saudi Arabia harshly criticized the behavior.  

It is not the first time that the Portuguese forward has been at the centre of controversy since joining Al Nassr. Last April, upon leaving the field after a game against Al Hilal, Ronaldo appeared to grab his genitals as fans chanted Messi’s name. On that occasion, Al Nassr said that the forward had sustained a groin injury in the match. 

Ronaldo, who moved to the Riyadh-based club in December 2022, has a league-leading 22 goals. He scored the opener against Al-Shabab, a first-half penalty. 

Al Nassr are also in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, a tournament the club has never won.