<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match for making an alleged offensive gesture during a Saudi Arabia league game while playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After Al-Nassr defeated Riyadh rival Al-Shabab 3-2 on Sunday, video footage appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis, in a gesture that seemed to be aimed at Al-Shabab fans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Background chants of “Messi,” referencing Ronaldo’s longstanding soccer rival Lionel Messi, could be heard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) committee announced the ban on social media early Thursday morning local time. Al-Nassr’s next league game is at home to Al-Hazm on Thursday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star will also have to pay a fine of 20,000 Saudi Riyals ( $5,333) to Al-Shabab, to cover the costs of the club filing the complaint, and half of that amount to the federation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The committee said that the decision was not open to appeal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the incident was not captured by television cameras, the actions of Ronaldo, who scored a first-half penalty in the game, were widely criticized in Saudi Arabia by former players and commentators.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to reports in the Saudi Arabia media, the 39-year-old told the committee that the gesture was one of victory and common in Europe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is not the first time that the Portuguese forward has been at the center of controversy since joining Al-Nassr. Last April, upon leaving the field after a game against Al-Hilal, Ronaldo appeared to grab his genitals as fans chanted Messi’s name. On that occasion, Al-Nassr said that the forward had sustained a groin injury in the match.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ronaldo, who moved to the Riyadh-based club in December 2022, has a league-leading 22 goals. His scored the opener against Al Shabab, a first-half penalty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Al Nassr is also in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, a tournament it has never won. AP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bndb24/kh</div>