Ronaldo issues defiant TWO-WORD response after Saudi Pro League ban announced

Robin Bairner

• 29 Feb 2024 12:19 GMT
• 4 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted following the news that he will be banned for his reaction to Lionel Messi chants following Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab.

Ronaldo scored a penalty in the encounter, which was a tense affair that saw Talisca strike the winning goal in the 86th minute before the home side were reduced to 10 men deep in stoppage time.

The home crowd targeted ‘CR7’ with repeated chants of ‘Messi, Messi, Messi’, which clearly riled the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. In response, he made a lewd gesture towards the supporters.

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

This provoked an angry reaction in Saudi Arabia, with the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) handing down a one-game ban to the 39-year-old former Manchester United player, who has also been fined around €7,500 to cover the costs of filing the complaint.

Ronaldo, though, appears unperturbed by the response to his actions.

He took to social media quickly after the punishment was announced to post an image of himself in the gym.

The superstar tagged the picture: “Can’t stop.”

Ronaldo’s second offence

Ronaldo has previously incited a heated response with his actions following a Pro League encounter, with the Portuguese coming under fire soon after arriving at Al-Nassr in April 2023.

Indeed, it was even suggested that he could be deported from the country for a misdemeanour in which he repeatedly provocatively touched his groin after he left the field following a 2-0 defeat to Al-Hilal that left Al-Nassr off the pace at the top of the table.

READ MORE: Saudi Pro League top scorers: Ronaldo leads after rare Mitrovic blank

Lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed took to X to declare: “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."

Ronaldo, though, remains a key attraction to the Pro League.