In 19 Champions League seasons (yes, NINETEEN), Cristiano Ronaldo has only been excluded once, during a confusing situation opposing him to Colombian defender Jeison Murillo, during a Valencia-Juve (0-2) in 2018. But some bloodshed has already marked the European career of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, until now expelled a total of eight times. Saudi football has just discovered this side of the Portuguese international in a spectacular way on Monday evening, during the semi-final of the Saudi Arabian Super Cup between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.
Frustrated to see his team trailing by two goals against the best team in the country, and therefore letting a trophy slip away, the 39-year-old completely lost his nerve in an innocuous action. In the 85th minute of play, he rushed to recover the ball in order to take a throw-in. Then embarrassed by Ali Al-Bulaihi, he pushed the latter away with a gesture of irritation.
A heavy suspension to come?
Sent off for this bloody attack (against an opponent clearly adding to it), the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League almost slipped in front of the referee of this match, when he brandished the red card in his direction. Cristiano Ronaldo in fact raised his fist towards the official, who then had his back turned to him, and he refrained from sending the ball into his head.
The epilogue of a bad evening for the Portuguese, since his offside position had canceled a goal from Otavio in the first period (at 0-0), before a situation in which he thought he would obtain a penalty on time game (at 0-1). Despite Sadio Mané’s reduction in the gap in added time, Al-Nassr is therefore eliminated from the competition (1-2). And Cristiano Ronaldo, who also left the pitch suggesting spectators ironically applaud the referee after his expulsion, now risks a heavy suspension.