Ronaldo threatened with Saudi Arabia DEPORTATION over obscene gesture

Robin Bairner

• 20 Apr 2023 12:05 BST
• 4 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo’s stay with Al-Nassr may be a good deal briefer than he might have wished, with the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend having attracted the headlines for all the wrong reasons in Saudi Arabia in recent days.

Indeed, Ronaldo has been threatened with deportation from the country following a gesture he made after his Al-Nassr side were defeated by Al-Hilal 2-0 on Tuesday.

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr: Goals, assists, results & fixtures

Lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed appears to have started a campaign to have Ronaldo forced out of the country as a result of his actions following that match.

Taking to Twitter, they said: “I don't follow sports. Even if the Al-Hilal crowd provoked Ronaldo, he should not have responded to them. This behaviour is a crime.

"It is considered a crime of public dishonour and is one of the crimes that entails consequent arrest and deportation, if committed by a foreigner, so we will submit a petition to the Public Prosecution Office in this regard."

However, Al-Nassr clarified the incident to journalist Muhammed Al-Enezi, saying: "Ronaldo suffers from an injury. His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area. This is confirmed information.

"As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want.”

MORE: De Gea to REJECT £9m pay cut as Ronaldo rule kicks in at Man Utd

What did Ronaldo do?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner cut a frustrated figure on the field during the Saudi Pro League fixture, which leaves his side second in the division having played one game more than leaders Al-Ittihad.

Much of the attention in the match was drawn to a challenge that saw Ronaldo grapple with an opponent from behind, which earned him a yellow card from referee Michael Oliver. Many critics, though, felt he was lucky the punishment was not sterner.

Ronaldo, though, could face a far more severe sanction for a clip captured as he left the field at the end of the match. As he left the field to walk down the tunnel, a video recording showed the 38-year-old touching his groin area repeatedly.

Such gestures are seen as offensive in Saudi Arabia, where there are strict laws against such obscenities.

Ronaldo is already being given special treatment in Saudi Arabia to be able to live with Georgina Rodriguez, his partner. The pair have been excused the country’s laws which forbid unmarried couples to live together.

"Although the laws of the kingdom still prohibit cohabitation without a marriage contract, the authorities have recently started to turn a blind eye and no longer prosecute anyone," a lawyer told EFE. “Although these laws are used when there is a problem or a crime."

Ronaldo’s latest act, then, could cause further trouble after a promising start at Al-Nassr.