Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian tryst souring? Footballer in trouble for obscene gesture in response to Messi chants

Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo had a near perfect night out on Sunday. The club beat Al Shabab 3-2 to maintain a one-arm distance with Saudi Pro League table toppers Al Hilal, and its captain scored from the spot to lead from the front. The goal marked a 34th for the Portuguese in the ongoing season. A gesture from the winning captain after the game ended however, may have led to the jovial mood being subdued.

Leading his teammates after an away win, Ronaldo responded to the home fans chanting the name of his arch nemesis Lionel Messi by directing an obscene gesture at them which is currently being investigated by Saudi football federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee. Here’s a video of the said incident:

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Per Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, a ruling on the matter can be expected in the next 48 hours. Citing sources, the daily believes there is a sentiment of displeasure within the authorities with regards to the five-time Ballon D’or winning player’s actions. “They are eager to act quickly and decisively, with many Saudis left disappointed and angry at Ronaldo’s alleged antics.”

If found guilty by the Ethics Committee, Ronaldo may even get banned for Al Nassr’s next league stage game on Thursday, with the club still very in contention for a first-ever league title win since the 2018-19 season.

It isn’t a first time that Ronaldo has been irked by fans displaying approval of Messi at one of his games. The Portuguese had also sparked a controversy last year following a defeat to Al-Hilal, responding to opposition fans waving Messi shirts by putting his hand in his genital area and pulling upwards in another video that did rounds on the social media.

Even in recent times, the Al Nassr captain’s relationship with the Saudi fans has been anything but smooth. Walking back to the ground tunnel following a loss in the Riyadh Season Cup final, the Portuguese had made the headlines for all the wrong reasons after an Al-Hilal shirt was hurled his way.

Having arrived in Saudi after his second stint at Manchester United turned sour in late 2022, Ronaldo has been vocal about his move to the middle-east, going as far as suggesting that football in the country is “more quality” than many leagues in Europe.

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