Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the center of controversy once again, as footage released on social media appears to show the veteran forward making an insulting gesture towards fans during Al-Nassr’s 2-0 loss to Al-Hilal on Tuesday night.
The video shows Ronaldo storming off the pitch, appearing to grab his crotch in response to fans chanting the name of his rival Lionel Messi.
The supporters repeatedly sung “Messi! Messi! Messi!” in an attempt to taunt the 37-year-old, who was visibly furious. As he walked towards the tunnel, Ronaldo put his hand in his genital area and pulled upwards, with the clip sowing him moving it around.
CR7’s conduct questioned again after chokehold and crotch grabbing incident
This gesture comes after an earlier incident in the game, where Ronaldo was booked by former Premier League referee Michael Oliver for bringing down an opponent in a chokehold. Despite there being no clear attempt to play the aerial ball above their heads as he made the challenge, Ronaldo was only given a yellow card.
The Portuguese superstar has been a key player for Al-Nassr, scoring 11 goals in 11 league games – and 11 in 13 in all competitions – since joining the club on a three-year contract in December. However, reports suggest that his behavior has caused some unrest in the dressing room, leading to the departure of former manager Rudi Garcia.
Tuesday’s defeat against Al-Hilal sees Dinko Jelicic’s side fall three points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, having played a game more. Meanwhile, Al-Shabab sit in third place, three points behind Al-Nassr with a game in hand.
The incident has once again raised questions about Ronaldo’s conduct on the pitch and his ability to handle criticism from fans. It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against him for his gesture towards the fans.
MARCA
