On Monday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo’s temper appeared to have flared uncontrollably during a face-off with Al-Hilal, leading to the manifestation of an elbow-strike against a rival team member and an intimidating gesture aimed at the referee.
In the latter stages of the Saudi Super Cup semi-final, Al-Nassr was two goals behind to Al-Hilal, and in the 86th minute, the frustrated Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo shoved his elbow twice against the chest of Ali Al Bulayhi. This action resulted in the Al-Hilal defender falling to the ground, prompting the referee, Mohammed Khaled Al-Hoaish, to show Ronaldo a red card.
Ronaldo, seemingly enraged in the aftermath of the incident, menacingly clenched his fist at the referee. It could easily be read as a tacit threat to strike the official.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo managed to suppress his instinct to follow through with his apparent threat, and walked off the field with the game nearing its conclusion. His exit was marked by a sarcastic applause aimed at the spectators, demonstrating that his ire was induced by another issue within the scope of the game.
Falling short by one player, Al-Nassr still scored a consolation goal during overtime, courtesy of Sadio Mane. Though it wasn’t enough to see them through to the final of the Cup.
Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom’s goals ensured victory for Al-Hilal, thus claiming a berth against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup final.
Although this marks Ronaldo’s inaugural expulsion since his arrival in Saudi Arabia in the previous January, it’s not an isolated incident that he’s displayed discontent during a game. In another instance against Al-Shabab, he responded to fans chanting Lionel Messi’s name with what was judged as an “obscene gesture.” There was also a heated exchange with Jordan Henderson, an ex Al-Ettifaq midfielder.
Ronaldo’s team faced a setback, delaying Ronaldo’s campaign for a trophy in this foreign terrain. Al-Hilal holds a commanding lead over Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, with a difference of 12 points. And following a penalty shootout, UAE’s team Al-Ain ousted them from the Asian Champions League at the quarter-finals, though Ronaldo’s team still contends for the domestic King’s Cup.
