Cristiano Ronaldo Sent Off Amidst Controversy in Al-Nassr’s Saudi Cup Semifinal Defeat
In a dramatic turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the centre of controversy during Al-Nassr’s Saudi Cup semifinal defeat, as he was sent off for a series of contentious incidents on the field.
The match, which saw Al-Nassr trailing 2-0 against Al-Hilal, took a heated turn in the dying moments when Ronaldo clashed with Al-Hilal’s Ali Al-Bulaihi near the touchline. The altercation ensued when Al-Bulaihi attempted to prevent Ronaldo from taking a quick throw-in, leading to a confrontation between the two players.
Video footage captured Ronaldo appearing to elbow Al-Bulaihi, causing the defender to fall to the ground. The situation escalated further as Ronaldo seemed to stamp on the downed player, although the view was partially obstructed by advertising boards, making it difficult to confirm whether contact was made.
The incident sparked a brawl between the rival teams, with players from both sides engaging in pushing and shoving. Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Al-Nassr’s Aymeric Laporte attempted to intervene, but tensions remained high.
Referee Mohammed Al-Hoaish then issued a straight red card to Ronaldo, prompting the veteran player to express his frustration towards the match official. Ronaldo gestured as if he intended to throw a punch before restraining himself, but his actions did not go unnoticed by the officials.
As he left the pitch, Ronaldo sarcastically patted one of the match officials on the shoulder, adding to the controversy surrounding the incident. He was heard telling the crowd that they were witnessing a robbery, reflecting his dissatisfaction with the referee’s decisions.
The match ended in disappointment for Al-Nassr and Ronaldo, who were eliminated from the competition by the Saudi Pro League leaders. Earlier in the game, Ronaldo had clashed with the referee over a disallowed goal, receiving a yellow card for his protests.
Overall, it was a tumultuous night for Ronaldo and his team, marked by on-field confrontations and a controversial sending off that overshadowed the outcome of the match.
