Cristiano Ronaldo Receives One-Match Suspension for Offensive Gesture after Al Nassr's Victory

Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a one-match suspension following an incident where he appeared to make an offensive gesture after Al Nassr's thrilling 3-2 victory over Al Shabab. The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) made the announcement on Wednesday, addressing the concerns raised by Al-Shabab.

Videos circulating on social media captured Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly making a hand gesture near his pelvic area, seemingly directed towards rival Al Shabab supporters. In the background, chants of "Messi" could be heard, referencing Ronaldo's long-standing football rival from Argentina.

In response to the complaint filed by Al-Shabab, the committee summoned the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to present his side of the story. They also requested footage of the incident from the official broadcaster.

The committee has declared that this decision is non-appealable, enforcing the one-match suspension against Ronaldo for his actions.

This is not the first time that the Portuguese legend has found himself at the center of fan controversy. Earlier this month, he was seen putting a scarf down his shorts before throwing it back at Al-Hilal fans after Al-Nassr's loss in the Riyadh Season Cup. During the same match, Ronaldo reacted angrily to Al-Hilal fans chanting Lionel Messi's name.

Further, last year, during another encounter with Al-Hilal, the 39-year-old striker responded to taunts from the fans by grabbing his crotch, once again stemming from the invoking of Lionel Messi's name.

These incidents highlight a pattern of provocative encounters involving Ronaldo and opposing fans. As a world-renowned athlete, his actions on and off the field continue to draw attention and scrutiny.

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