Saudi Arabia’s football regulatory authority has banned Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo for one game for making a ‘provocative gesture’.
The 39-year-old made a gesture on the pitch last weekend that was deemed against the nation’s recognized norms, and the verdict cannot be challenged.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said on Thursday, February 29, that the former Juventus player had been fined 30,000 riyals ($8,000) for the incident, which violated regulations prohibiting inciting the audience during a match.
A viral video from Al-Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab showed Ronaldo making a repeated thrusting motion towards his groin in reaction to audiences insulting him by shouting the name of his longstanding adversary, Lionel Messi.
The footage soon went viral, rising to the top of Saudi social media hot topics.
According to sports publication Al-Riyadiya, Ronaldo stated that he respects all football teams and that the gesture showed “strength and victory” – not insult – and was acceptable in Europe.
