In a heated moment during the Saudi Super Cup match, Cristiano Ronaldo, visibly enraged, lost his cool when he was red-carded for what seemed to be elbowing and stamping on his opponent from Al-Hilal, Ali Al-Bulaihi. The altercation unfolded as Al-Bulaihi attempted to prevent Ronaldo from quickly retrieving the ball for a throw-in, leading to a confrontation between the two players.
The situation escalated into a brawl between the two rival teams, with players from both sides engaging in pushing and shoving. Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly intervened to support his teammate, while Aymeric Laporte attempted to diffuse the tension.
Despite Ronaldo’s attempts to plead his case with the match officials, he was shown a straight red card, prompting further frustration. In a moment of anger, Ronaldo gestured as if to throw a punch towards the referee, before retracting the motion. He sarcastically patted one official on the shoulder as he left the pitch, expressing his discontent with the decision.
Earlier in the game, Ronaldo had clashed with the referee over a disallowed goal for Al-Nassr, receiving a yellow card for his protests. Ultimately, Al-Nassr was eliminated from the competition by Saudi Pro League leaders, adding to Ronaldo’s frustrations.
This incident was not the first time Ronaldo had courted controversy in Saudi football, as he had previously been suspended for a match after making an obscene gesture during a match against Al Shabab.
