09 April 2024 , 09:25
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Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo could be seen sarcastically applauding and gesticulating as he left the field following a red card against Al-Hilal.
Ronaldo's team trailed 2-0 in their Saudi Super Cup semi-final when Ronaldo got his marching orders, having seen a goal of their own chalked off. He shoved and then appeared to elbow opponent Ali Al-Bulaihi, earning a near-instant red card.
The 39-year-old then raised his fists, seemingly ready to punch the ball right in front of the referee who had dismissed him. While Ronaldo thought better of it, perhaps wary of further punishment, he continued to make his feelings clear as he left the field of play.
Team-mate Sadio Mane managed to score a late goal for 10-man Al-Nassr, but it wasn't enough to force extra-time. The result means Ronaldo's wait for a domestic trophy with his club will continue.
After a goalless first half, Al-Hilal went in front through Salem Al-Dawsari and doubled their lead through Malcom. Ronaldo was attempting to get the ball back from the touchline with around five minutes to go when Al-Bulaihi held onto it.
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This prompted Ronaldo's reaction, with referee Mohammed Khaled Al-Hoaish quickly approaching and brandishing the red card. Before he could remove the card from his pocket, though, Al-Hilal defender Saud Abdulhamid then proceeded to shove Ronaldo in the back.
This prompted a brawl involving players from both teams. Kalidou Koulibaly and Mohamed Kanno were two of the Al-Hilal players involved, while Al-Nassr's Aymeric Laporte pulled Kanno away from his own team-mates.
Was Ronaldo's red card the right decision? Have your say in the comments section
Ronaldo was seen sarcastically applauding as he left the pitchRonaldo is the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season with 29 goals, seven clear of closest challenger Aleksandar Mitrovic, but silverware hasn't followed. Al-Nassr finished second behind Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League last season, and are 12 points behind league leaders Al-Hilal this term with just seven games to go.
The Riyadh-based side lost in the semi-finals of the King Cup and Super Cup last season, with Al-Ain eliminating them from this season's AFC Champions League. They did win the Arab Club Champions Cup, though, and are due to face Al-Khaleej in the semi-finals of this season's King Cup on May 1.
"It is difficult to talk about the incident in which Ronaldo received the red card, and we saw several clips earlier in the season in which Ronaldo was provoked, and after seeing some of the pictures Ronaldo did not do anything that deserved to be sent off, and the opposing player acted," Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro said of the dismissal.
"The contact was small between Cristiano and the opponent’s defender. He made a play. The video referee was supposed to call the match referee to watch the clip of the expulsion."
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