Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned by the Saudi FA after making a vulgar response to chants praising Lionel Messi.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has imposed a one-match ban on Cristiano Ronaldo and fined him 30,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) for his actions during celebrations on Sunday according to confirmation from the Mirror
Following chants of “Messi” in the crowd, Ronaldo gestured forward in front of his pelvic area after scoring in Al-Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab. The SAFF considered this gesture to have caused ‘public excitement,’ leading to the disciplinary action.
The celebration, not captured on local broadcasts, surfaced on social media through a fan upload. A complaint by Al-Shabab prompted an investigation, and the footage was submitted to the committee.
Cristiano Ronaldo found guilty
The committee found that Cristiano Ronaldo violated Article 57-1 of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations.
The Article in question, Article 57-1, outlines that anyone causing public excitement during a match through action, word, or gesture will face a one-match suspension and a fine of 10,000 riyals.
Cristiano Ronaldo will pay this fine to the SAFF. Additionally, he has been directed to pay an additional 20,000 riyals to Al-Shabab, covering the expenses related to filing their complaint.
Video: Fan taunts Cristiano Ronaldo with vulgar gesture
Despite denying any ‘disgraceful gesture’ Cristiano Ronaldo, through Al-Nassr, won’t appeal the ruling and will miss the upcoming match. Ronaldo reportedly provided a statement to the SAFF, asserting that the movement was a display of strength and victory common in Europe.
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been a football centerpiece for almost two decades, with the Ballon D’Or awarded to either of them from 2008-2017.
They each had five awards by the end of that era, disrupted only by Luka Modric. However, Messi has since won three more Ballon D’Or awards, adding to the ongoing narrative of their football legacy.
He expressed surprise at pro-Messi chants in Saudi Arabia, where he has become a prominent figure, citing his accustomed experience in European matches.
