Cristiano Ronaldo is under scrutiny for his actions after Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League (SPL), with allegations of him making an offensive gesture towards fans.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the away game on Sunday, setting his club on the path to victory. Anderson Talisca struck twice, including an 86th-minute winner, after Yannick Carrasco and Carlos had scored for the hosts.
However, Ronaldo grabbed attention once again as he appeared to cup his ear towards Al Shabab fans after the match, followed by repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis.
Chants of "Messi" were audible, referring to Ronaldo's longstanding Ballon d'Or rival and former competitor during their time at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.
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It's possible that these chants provoked Ronaldo, leading to his gesture as a response to the fans.
The 39-year-old Portuguese could face consequences for his actions, with reports indicating that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has launched an investigation.
“The disciplinary committee is facing the biggest test. We will wait and see,” Waleed Al Farraj, a prominent Saudi writer and television host, said on social media platform X. “Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are. This is how the major leagues are.”
Al Nassr has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident. Ronaldo's club is currently second in the Saudi Pro League, trailing Al Hilal by four points, having missed out on the title in his first season after joining from Manchester United.
They remain in contention for the Asian Champions League, a tournament they've never won, and are set to face Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the quarter-finals next month.
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in the Saudi Pro League this season, with 22 goals in 20 appearances.
This isn't the first time Ronaldo has faced criticism for his conduct. Last April, he appeared to make a similar gesture while heading to the dugout after a league game against Al Hilal, which Al Nassr lost 2-0.
Earlier this month, he grabbed an Al Hilal scarf thrown at him from the stands, briefly placing it in his shorts before discarding it as he walked towards the tunnel following Al Nassr's 2-0 defeat in the Riyadh Season Cup final.