Cristiano Ronaldo, the 39-year-old Portuguese forward playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has been handed a two-match suspension by the Disciplinary Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) for elbowing an opponent and threatening to attack the referee after Al Nassr’s 1-2 loss to Al Hilal in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup. The incident occurred on April 8, when Ronaldo elbowed defender Ali Al Bulaihi while disputing the ball out of bounds, causing the Al Hilal player to fall and roll on the ground. Referee Mohammed Al Hoaish sent off the Portuguese forward, who then mimed the gesture of a punch towards the referee, who did not notice the action.
Despite Ronaldo’s insistence during a hearing with SAFF that he did not deserve to be sent off, the Disciplinary Committee imposed the two-match ban, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat. The suspension means that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United stars will miss Al Nassr’s crucial matches against Al Feiha on April 19 and Al Khaleej on April 28 in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo to Miss Crucial Matches in Saudi Pro League
The two-match suspension comes at a critical time for Al Nassr, who are currently trailing league leaders Al Hilal by 12 points after 27 rounds. With only seven rounds left in the season, the next two rounds’ results could determine the Saudi Pro League champions. Ronaldo’s absence in these crucial matches could significantly impact Al Nassr’s chances of catching up to their rivals and securing the league title.
The Portuguese forward, who joined Al Nassr in January 2023 after a controversial exit from Manchester United, has been a key player for the Saudi club, scoring 11 goals in 12 appearances across all competitions. His presence on the pitch has been instrumental in Al Nassr’s performance, and his suspension is likely to be felt by the team and its supporters.
Incident During Al Nassr’s Loss to Al Hilal
The incident that led to Ronaldo’s suspension occurred during the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup on April 8, where Al Nassr faced off against their rivals Al Hilal. During the match, Ronaldo elbowed defender Ali Al Bulaihi while disputing the ball out of bounds, causing the Al Hilal player to fall and roll on the ground. Referee Mohammed Al Hoaish, who was officiating the match, deemed Ronaldo’s action as violent conduct and sent off the Portuguese forward with a red card.
However, Ronaldo’s reaction to the red card further escalated the situation. According to reports, the 39-year-old forward mimed the gesture of a punch towards referee Al Hoaish, who, with his back turned, did not notice the action. This threatening gesture towards the official was likely a contributing factor in SAFF’s decision to impose the two-match ban on Ronaldo.
Referee’s Match Report and Al Nassr’s Defense
The severity of Ronaldo’s actions during the match was underscored by referee Al Hoaish’s match report, which was obtained by Goal. In the report, Al Hoaish wrote that Ronaldo’s action is a disgrace and a stain on Saudi Arabian football, emphasizing the seriousness of the incident and its potential impact on the reputation of the league.
In response to the red card and subsequent suspension, Al Nassr released a statement defending their star player. The club argued that Ronaldo was only trying to push his opponent away, win the ball, and get back into play as quickly as possible and did not deserve to be sent off. Al Nassr’s coach, Luis Castro, also came to Ronaldo’s defense, suggesting that defender Al Bulaihi had provoked the situation and exaggerated the impact despite minimal contact.
Castro expressed his discontent with the fact that VAR did not intervene and overturn Ronaldo’s red card, believing that the video review system should have been used to assess the incident more thoroughly. The coach also added that Ronaldo’s emotional reaction could be attributed to the fact that he is not accustomed to defeat, given his illustrious career and numerous successes at the highest level of football.
Al Hilal’s Response and Al Nassr’s Season Performance
In the wake of the incident, Al Hilal, Al Nassr’s rivals and the team they lost to in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup took to social media to poke fun at Ronaldo’s actions. The club posted a video on TikTok comparing Ronaldo to a wrestler for his two foul incidents while wearing the Al Nassr jersey.
The video highlighted two specific incidents involving Ronaldo. The first was when the Portuguese forward grabbed the neck and brought down midfielder Gustavo Cuellar during Al Nassr’s 0-2 loss to Al Hilal in the Saudi League in April 2023. The second incident was the more recent elbowing of defender Ali Al Bulaihi in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup, which led to Ronaldo’s red card and subsequent suspension.
These incidents have occurred during a season in which Al Nassr have struggled to meet expectations, despite the high-profile signing of Ronaldo. The club have been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League and the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup, and are currently in second place in the Saudi League with very little chance of winning the title. Their only silverware of the season so far has been the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Al Nassr’s next challenge will be the semi-finals of the King Cup, where they are set to face Al Ittihad on April 30. However, they will have to do so without their star player, as Ronaldo serves his two-match suspension handed down by SAFF. The Portuguese forward’s absence could be a significant blow to Al Nassr’s chances of advancing to the final and securing another trophy this season.
As Ronaldo sits out the next two matches, both he and Al Nassr will be hoping that the team can rally together and produce positive results in his absence. The 39-year-old forward will undoubtedly be eager to return to action and help his club challenge for titles, but he will also need to be mindful of his conduct on the pitch to avoid further disciplinary action that could hinder both his and Al Nassr’s aspirations.
