Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned by the Saudi Arabian FA. (Image: Getty)
Cristiano Ronaldo has responded in trademark fashion after he was banned by the Saudi Arabian FA for a provoking reaction to Lionel Messi chants. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be forced to sit out one match for Saudi club Al-Nassr following the gesture made towards supporters.
The attacker got into trouble for ‘provoking fans’ during Al-Nassr’s recent defeat against fellow Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab. Supporters of the opposition team could be heard taunting Ronaldo with chants of ‘Messi’ – a reference to the Portuguese star’s long-time adversary. Ronaldo reacted by cupping his ear and gesturing in the direction of the Al Shabab fans.
As a result, Ronaldo has been fined 30,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) and ordered to sit Al-Nassr’s next fixture out. In response to the punishment, Ronaldo shared a photo of him practising in the gym on X, captioned: “Can’t stop.”
A typically blunt reaction from the ex-Manchester United star, who will now sit out a one-match suspension in the Saudi Pro League. The bad news for Al-Nassr is the ban comes at a bad time, as they’re currently in the midst of a title tussle with leaders and fellow Saudi money-bags Al-Hilal.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated by the treatment from fans during a recent Saudi Pro League. (Image: Getty)
Al-Nassr, who also have former Premier League aces Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte on their roster, sit seven points behind leaders Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League table. The side from Riyadh have been in a rich vein of form, winning all but one of their previous 12 outings in the league.
The only match Al-Nassr didn’t win during that time was against Al-Hilal themselves, suggesting a first league title since Ronaldo arrived at the Middle Eastern nation might be too much of a tall order this season. It hasn’t been for the want of trying though, with Ronaldo leading the goalscorer charts in the Saudi Pro League, having found the net 22 times in 20 league matches so far.
It comes amid a time of uncertainty for the Saudi project, with players who made the jump over from Europe in the summer beginning to question their decision. Ronaldo’s teammate Laporte being one, with the former Manchester City defender recently revealing it had been difficult to adapt to the lifestyle.
“It is a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it is all about adaptation,” Laporte told Spanish newspaper AS. “They have not made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players that are discontented.
“We are working on it every day, negotiating so to speak, and to see if it improves a little because this is something new for them too, having European players who already have a long career. Maybe they are not used to this and have to adapt to a little more seriousness.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1872117/Cristiano-Ronaldo-Saudi-ban