Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended from the Saudi Pro League for an obscene gesture. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Wednesday that the 39-year-old has been suspended for one match
The scene that caused outrage in Saudi Arabia was not shown on the TV broadcast of Ronaldo’s team Al-Nassr’s 3-2 away win at Al Shabab on Sunday evening, but videos quickly circulated on social media.
They show the Portuguese, who had scored the opening goal from the penalty spot earlier in the game, apparently gesticulating towards the opposing fans. He puts his left hand to his ear and moves his right hand back and forth in front of his lower body several times. Apparently a reaction to shouts of “Messi!” from the stands.
The gesture caused a great deal of commotion and criticism in Saudi Arabia, with the Saudi Football Association launching an investigation. This has now resulted in a one-match ban for Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 22 goals.
Al-Nassr are in second place in the Saudi Pro League table, four points behind Al Hilal.
