Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the centre of controversy yet again during Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup clash against Al-Hilal.
The match, already tense with Al-Nassr trailing 2-0, escalated into chaos as Ronaldo was sent off for an altercation with Al-Hilal’s Ali Al-Bulaihi.
Video footage captured Ronaldo seemingly elbowing Al-Bulaihi and later appearing to stamp on him, inciting a brawl between the two teams.
Referee Mohammed Al-Hoaish wasted no time in brandishing a straight red card to Ronaldo, who displayed his frustration by gesturing towards the official, seemingly indicating a desire to throw a punch.
Ronaldo tried to punch the referee after he was showed a red card 😳pic.twitter.com/XlIWDjqcWq
— Stop That Messi (@stopthatmessiii) April 8, 2024
As he exited the pitch, Ronaldo sarcastically patted another match official on the shoulder, further illustrating his displeasure.
Earlier in the game, Ronaldo had clashed with the referee over a disallowed goal, receiving a yellow card for his protests. This contentious decision set the stage for the later altercation.
Despite Ronaldo’s dismissal, Al-Nassr managed to secure a late consolation goal through Sadio Mane, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit.
Salem Aldawsari and Malcom’s goals secured a 2-1 victory for Al-Hilal, advancing them to the next round of the Saudi Super Cup.
This incident adds to Ronaldo’s troubled season in Saudi football, following a previous suspension for allegedly making an obscene gesture during a match in February.