Will he get punished? Cristiano Ronaldo could face a ban for obscene gesture in response to fans chanting Messi’s name

Cristiano Ronaldo may still shine on the pitch, but he is just as much asking for trouble with his behaviour. Most recently, it happened in Sunday’s match against Al-Shabab, in which the Portuguese made an obscene gesture to relieve himself after the opposing fans chanted the name of his age-old rival Lionel Messi. Will he be punished?

Al-Nassr is still only second in the Saudi Arabian league table after Sunday’s win over Al-Shabab. Moreover, they came away from the match against a clearly inferior team with a miserable 3-2 win, decided mainly by two goals from Anderson Talisca.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo was not absent from the match. The top scorer of the Saudi Pro League scored the first goal of the match in the 21st minute when he converted a penalty. He scored for the fourth game in a row. Outside of that, though, he wasn’t much to look at.

Instead of his performance, a completely different issue is being addressed. It has become something of a tradition among fans of rivals Al-Nassr to chant the name of his age-old rival Lionel Messi. And it must be noted, however, that the way the Portuguese responds to the chanting is downright asking for it.

It almost seems like the best way to get into his head, to unsettle him and knock him out of shape. Cristiano Ronaldo, after all, has reacted very irritably to such provocations on more than one occasion.

Moreover, he has also shown his dissatisfaction with Messi winning. For example, his eighth Ballon d’Or or other prestigious individual awards. While the Argentine is quietly finishing his career overseas without excessive emotions, the Portuguese still has something to prove.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo be punished?

It was in the match against Al-Shabab that Cristiano Ronaldo committed another gesture that was very unprofessional. While it was a reaction to the fans chanting Messi’s name, a player of his calibre and especially his reputation should know how to control himself.

At 39 years old, he should be leading by example more than ever. By his behaviour on the pitch, but also off it. But that’s not quite happening and so the authorities have started to look into his gestures.

The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation has already launched an investigation. And will gather material to decide on a possible punishment for the winner of five Ballon d’Or. A verdict is expected to be reached within 48 hours.

Many Saudis are said to be offended by Ronaldo’s behaviour. So it is not at all out of the question that Cristiano could face a mandatory stop sign. That would be a punishment not only for him, but also for Al-Nassr, who are facing tough matches.

Source: Goal, Transfermarkt