Top Cristiano Ronaldo fights and bans in the Saudi Pro League | Saudi Football News - The Times of India

Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Al Nassr has been full of drama as well as goals. While he continues to score for the Saudi Pro League club. The Portuguese forward has also been involved in incidents that grabbed headlines, from gestures toward rival fans to on-field clashes.

Ronaldo has faced criticism, suspensions, and bans. Here are some of the biggest controversies.

Cristiano Ronaldo banned after Al Shabab controversy

In February, Cristiano Ronaldo received a one-match suspension after Al Nassr’s 3-2 win against Al Shabab. Video clips showed him responding to chants of “Messi” from rival fans with a hand gesture near his pelvis. The act led to a formal complaint from Al Shabab and action from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.Along with the suspension, Ronaldo was ordered to pay 20,000 Saudi Riyals (around $5,333) to cover Al Shabab’s filing costs and half of that amount to the federation. The ban came as a setback for Al Nassr. And who were preparing to face Al Hazem in their next league game. The gesture also sparked debate among Saudi commentators and former players, many of whom said the forward crossed a line.

Al Nassr forward caught in Asian Champions League fight

Ronaldo’s season also took a rough turn during Al Nassr’s quarter-final clash with Al Ain in the AFC Champions League.

The game ended in heartbreak for Al Nassr as they lost 3-1 on penalties, despite Ronaldo converting his spot kick and scoring in extra time.Tensions boiled over after the final whistle. Players from both sides were seen pushing and shoving, with Ronaldo caught in the middle of the confrontation. At the same time, the incident did not result in cautions; the image of Ronaldo surrounded by angry players and security quickly spread across social media.Adding to the frustration, Ronaldo had missed a close-range chance earlier in the match when the goalkeeper spilled a shot into his path. That miss proved costly as Al Nassr’s hopes of a maiden Champions League trophy came to an end.

Ronaldo sees red against Al Hilal in Super Cup

Another controversy came in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al Hilal. With Al Nassr trailing late in the match, Ronaldo appeared to elbow defender Ali Al-Bulayhi in the chest. The referee immediately showed a straight red card in the 86th minute.As he left the field, Ronaldo reacted with gestures toward the official, mocking the decision. The dismissal led to a two-game ban. This marks, the first red card of his Saudi Pro League career, and fans debated whether the elbow was intentional or a product of frustration. But the suspension added to his growing list of disciplinary issues in the country.Ronaldo continues to dominate the scoring charts for Al Nassr. But his fiery temper has put him at the center of repeated controversies, with every goal, ban, and red card the 39-year-old remains one of the most talked-about players in the Saudi Pro League.Read More: Why top European stars are choosing Saudi Arabia over Europe