Saudi Arabia’s football governing body has suspended Cristiano Ronaldo for one game and fined him 30,000 riyals ($8,000) for a gesture deemed a “provocation” during a match last weekend.
The move, which broke rules against provoking the public, cannot be appealed. Ronaldo, the Al-Nassr captain, was seen making a repeated gesture towards his groin in response to taunts from the crowd chanting Lionel Messi’s name.
The video quickly went viral on Saudi social media. Ronaldo, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, defended the gesture as expressing “strength and victory,” which he claimed is acceptable in Europe. The 39-year-old, who joined Al-Nassr in January 2023, was one of the first major stars to move to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Pro League has attracted other big names like Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Sadio Mane with lucrative contracts. However, the move to host the 2034 World Cup has raised criticism, accusing Riyadh of “sportswashing” to improve its international reputation amid concerns over human rights and the environment.
