On Wednesday, Al-Nassr claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo, a veteran football superstar, had suffered a “sensitive” groin injury that led him to make a gesture that angered fans after the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal match on Tuesday.
Ronaldo’s team suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Al-Hilal, which resulted in Ronaldo being the subject of criticism. As he walked off the field at the end of the match, Al-Hilal fans began to chant the name of Ronaldo’s greatest rival, Lionel Messi.
In response to the chants, the Al-Nassr captain made an obscene gesture by grabbing his crotch in their direction. This gesture caused widespread outrage, and football fans throughout the country demanded the captain’s expulsion from Saudi Arabia.
The gesture was doubly offensive, as it was considered too obscene, especially since Saudi Arabia is observing the holy month of Ramadan. Moreover, Ronaldo was accused of ‘abusing’ fans, which has led to a social media trend calling him a ‘fan abuser’.
Following the calls for his expulsion, Al-Nassr tried to explain the gesture by downplaying its significance. The club attributed the gesture to a “sensitive” injury in the groin area, and not an intention to disrespect.
The club’s board spoke to journalist Muhammed Al-Enezi regarding the matter. In a statement, he said, “Ronaldo suffers from an injury. His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area. This is confirmed information. As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want.”