Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined due to a one-match suspension, displayed visible emotion as Al Nassr supporters rallied behind him in a touching display of solidarity.
In their recent Saudi Pro League clash on Thursday in Riyadh, Al Nassr encountered a 4-4 draw against Al Hazm, marking a setback. They now trail league leaders Al Hilal by six points, with Al Hilal also possessing a game in hand.
The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo further compounded Al Nassr’s challenges, raising speculation on whether his presence could have altered the outcome.
Ronaldo watched the match from the stands due to a one-match suspension. He allegedly made an obscene gesture toward Al Shabab fans after Al Nassr’s 3-2 win on Sunday. The incident occurred post-match, with Ronaldo cupping his ear and gesturing in response to ‘Messi’ chants.
However, Al Nassr fans rallied behind Ronaldo on Thursday, ensuring he felt their support through a heartwarming gesture. In the seventh minute of the match, they chanted ‘Siu,’ replicating Ronaldo’s trademark celebration.
In response, Ronaldo was visibly emotional and waved his hand in appreciation. Here is the video:
Ronaldo with tears in his eyes when Al Nassr fans started chanting his name in the 7th minute🥹
Justice for Ronaldo✊
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@freddyCR7LA) February 29, 2024
Talisca opened the scoring for Al Nassr with a penalty in the 31st minute, granting them a 1-0 lead in the first half. However, Al Hazm leveled the score through Ahmad Al Mhemaid in the 53rd minute of the second half. Talisca then reclaimed the lead for Al Nassr with a goal in the 61st minute, making it 2-1.
Al Hazm responded swiftly, with Toze equalizing in the 66th minute. Talisca once again put Al Nassr in the lead with his goal in the 71st minute. Al Hazm managed to equalize once more, with Faiz Selemani finding the net in the 84th minute.
In injury time, Sadio Mane scored in the 90+4th minute, giving Al Nassr a late lead. However, Paulo Ricardo leveled the score for Al Hazm in the ninth minute of injury time, ending the match in a thrilling 4-4 draw.
In addition to his suspension, Ronaldo has been fined 10,000 Saudi riyals by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation. He’s also ordered to pay 20,000 riyals to Al Shabab to cover complaint filing fees. The decision is final and not subject to appeal.
While the alleged incident wasn’t televised, it has faced criticism from former players and commentators. Ronaldo defended himself to the committee, stating that the gesture was a common celebration of victory in Europe.
