Current:Home > NewsCristiano Ronaldo suspended for one match over alleged offensive gesture in Saudi league game -PrestigeTrade
Cristiano Ronaldo suspended for one match over alleged offensive gesture in Saudi league game
View
Date:2025-04-19 05:35:44
Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match for making an alleged offensive gesture during a Saudi Arabia league game while playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
After Al-Nassr defeated Riyadh rival Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday, video footage appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis, in a gesture that seemed to be aimed at Al-Shabab fans.
Background chants of “Messi,” referencing Ronaldo’s longstanding soccer rival Lionel Messi, could be heard.
The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) committee announced the ban on social media early Thursday morning local time. Al-Nassr’s next league game is at home to Al-Hazm on Thursday.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star will also have to pay a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals ( $5,333) to Al-Shabab, to cover the costs of the club filing the complaint, and half of that amount to the federation.
FILE - Cristiano Ronaldo speaks during a press conference for his official unveiling as a new member of Al Nassr soccer club in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo has come under heavy criticism after seemingly making an offensive gesture following Al Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
The committee said that the decision was not open to appeal.
While the incident was not captured by television cameras, the actions of Ronaldo, who scored a first-half penalty in the game, were widely criticized in Saudi Arabia by former players and commentators.
According to reports in the Saudi Arabia media, the 39-year-old told the committee that the gesture was one of victory and common in Europe.
It is not the first time that the Portuguese forward has been at the center 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.
FILE - Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal playing for a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and PSG during a friendly soccer match, at the King Saud University Stadium, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo has come under heavy criticism after seemingly making an offensive gesture following Al Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)
Ronaldo, who moved to the Riyadh-based club in December 2022, has a league-leading 22 goals. His scored the opener against Al Shabab, a first-half penalty.
Al Nassr is also in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, a tournament it has never won.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
veryGood! (663)
Related
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Amazon Fresh lays off hundreds of grocery store workers, reports say
- Blue blood from horseshoe crabs is valuable for medicine, but a declining bird needs them for food
- Dr. Paul Nassif Says Housewives Led to the Demise Of His Marriage to Adrienne Maloof
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- These Wayfair Sheets With 94.5K+ 5-Star Reviews Are on Sale for $14, Plus 70% Off Furniture & Decor Deals
- US mother, daughter, reported kidnapped in Haiti, people warned not to travel there
- 'Sound of Freedom' misleads audiences about the horrible reality of human trafficking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- July is set to be hottest month ever recorded, U.N. says, citing latest temperature data
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- 150 years later, batteaumen are once again bringing life to Scottsville
- In summer heat, bear spotted in Southern California backyard Jacuzzi
- Maralee Nichols Shares New Photo With Son Theo After Tristan Thompson Pays Tribute to Son Tatum
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Anchorage homeless face cold and bears. A plan to offer one-way airfare out reveals a bigger crisis
- Commanders ban radio hosts from training camp over 'disparaging remarks' about female reporter
- The 15 craziest Nicolas Cage performances, ranked (including 'Sympathy for the Devil')
Recommendation
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Biden administration proposes new fuel economy standards, with higher bar for trucks
When does 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem' come out? Cast, trailer, what to know
Mattel tried to report financials. All anyone wanted to talk about was 'Barbie'
Travis Hunter, the 2
Judge blocks Arkansas law allowing librarians to be criminally charged over ‘harmful’ materials
Cardi B Throws Microphone at Audience Member Who Tossed Drink at Her
Rams RB Sony Michel, two-time Super Bowl champ, retires at 28 after 5 NFL seasons