- Ronaldo is under investigation for a gesture he made to fans in Saudi Arabia
- He is expected to make a statement with the disciplinary and ethics committee of the Saudi Pro League
- If the gesture he made is found obscene and offensive, he could face a ban
Cristiano Ronaldo is under investigation by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for a gesture he made towards fans following Al-Nassr’s win against Al-Shabab on Sunday 25th February 2024 in the Saudi Pro League.
The incident happened when his team won a match against Al-Shabab and the opposing fans started chanting towards the forward, who made a gesture that seemed to be directed towards the fans.
Al-Shabab fans taunted Ronaldo by chanting about Lionel Messi, a rival to the Al-Nassr forward. As a result, the forward cupped his hand to his ear taking the chanting from the crowd and made a gesture towards his groin towards the fans.
The gesture has solicited reactions and criticism from the fans, and the matter is now being investigated by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. If the gesture is found to be obscene or offensive, he could face a two-match ban and a fine. People have different interpretations of the gesture though others believe it was a harmless act of celebration.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography
Born in Portugal, his football talent was evident from a young age and he played for local teams where he was impressed at the Sporting CP’s youth academy eventually joining their senior team.
His rise to stardom was reckoned by joining Manchester United and won three Champions League titles for three consecutive years and a Champions League in 2008. In the same year, he received the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the next, he transferred to Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo/Fox Sports
During his tenure with Madrid, Ronaldo became their all-time top scorer winning four Champions League titles and numerous other accolades, including the Ballon d’Or awards four times.
In 2018, he moved to Juventus in Italy Where he played for three seasons, winning two Serie A titles before returning to Manchester United. He currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and captains the Portuguese national team.
Why is Ronaldo seen as Messi’s rival?
For several reasons, Christian Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been seen as rivals by fans. First, both players rose to prominence around the same time, dominating the football scene for over a decade.
Both have achieved similar levels of success, winning numerous individual awards and team trophies, including a combined 12 Ballon d’Or awards, Messi-7 and Ronaldo-5. Fans have played a role in comparing the two ultimately supporting their preferred player.
Ronaldo with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr
Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in 2023, his arrival attracting attention from international media and fans. Though the club fell short in that season, his performance as an individual was impressive.
He finished the year as the world’s top scorer and as of today, he has scored 36 goals in 36 league appearances for the club. He scored a total of 48 goals in 54 games for the club across all competitions and won a Saudi Pro League Player of the Month award for February 2023.
While the club has not secured a league title since the forward’s arrival, he played a role in winning their first-ever Arab club Champions Cup in his first season, by scoring two goals in the final against rivals Al-Hilal.
Ronaldo’s questionable gesture
Ronaldo is currently facing criticism for a gesture he allegedly made during a match on February 25th 2024. The incident happened following Al-Nassr’s win over Al-Shabab. The rival team’s fans were not happy and they chanted for Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo/Footbalium
The forward cupped his hand to his ear taking the chanting from the crowd and made a gesture towards his groin towards the fans. This gesture seemingly directed towards the opposing team’s fans was interpreted by many as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.
It has since sparked controversy with some condemning it as offensive while others defend him saying it was a harmless act of celebration, and the Saudi Football Federation could be investigating the incident.
If the gesture is found to be obscene and offensive, the 39-year-old forward could face a ban from two matches and a fine imposed on him.
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