Ronaldo hit with two-match ban for violent conduct

The Asharq Al-Awsat reports that in a hearing with the Disciplinary Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the 39-year-old Al Nassr forward insisted that he did not deserve to be sent off.

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) elbows Ali Al Bulaihi in Al Nassr's 1-2 loss to Al Hilal 1-2 at the Saudi Super Cup semifinal in Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 8, 2024. Photo by Reuters

However, SAFF still imposed a two-match ban on Ronaldo following the hearing, which means the Portuguese forward will miss Al Nassr's games against Al Feiha on April 19 and Al Khaleej on April 28 in the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr currently trail league leaders Al Hilal by 12 points after 27 rounds, and with only seven rounds left in the season, the next two rounds’ results could determine the Saudi Pro League champions.

In the match where Al Nassr lost 1-2 to Al Hilal in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup on April 8, Ronaldo elbowed defender Ali Al Bulaihi while disputing the ball out of bounds, causing the Al Hilal player to fall and roll on the ground. The 39-year-old forward was then sent off by referee Mohammed Al Hoaish. In response, Ronaldo mimed the gesture of a punch towards referee Al-Hoaish who, with his back turned, did not notice anything.

According to Goal, referee Al Hoaish wrote in his match report that Ronaldo’s action is a disgrace and a stain on Saudi Arabian football. Al Nassr released a statement defending Ronaldo, stating that he was only trying to push his opponent away, win the ball, and get back into play as quickly as possible, and did not deserve a red card.

Similarly, coach Luis Castro argued that defender Al Bulaihi provoked the situation and exaggerated the impact despite minimal contact. The Al Nassr coach was discontented that VAR did not intervene and overturn Ronaldo's red card. He also added that the Portuguese forward could not control his emotion because he is not accustomed to defeat.

 

 

Ronaldo hit with two-match ban for violent conduct

Ronaldo bị đuổi khỏi sân, dọa đấm trọng tài

Meanwhile, Al Hilal posted a video on TikTok comparing Ronaldo to a wrestler for his two foul incidents in Al Nassr jersey. The first was when the Portuguese forward grabbed the neck and brought down midfielder Gustavo Cuellar when Al Nassr lost 0-2 to Al Hilal in the Saudi League in April 2023. The other incident was Ronaldo's elbowing of defender Ali Al Bulaihi in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup.

This season, Al Nassr have been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup, are in second place in the Saudi League and have very little chance to win the title. Their only title of the season is the Arab Club Champions Cup. Al Nassr also reached the semi-finals of the King Cup and will face Al Ittihad on April 30.