Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in a heated altercation during Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final match against Al-Hilal, leading to his expulsion from the game.
In the closing moments of the match, Ronaldo clashed with Ali Al-Bulaihi, an Al-Hilal player, near the touchline as Ronaldo attempted to take a quick throw-in.
Video footage suggests Ronaldo elbowed and possibly stamped on his opponent, prompting the referee to issue a red card for violent conduct.
Ronaldo’s reaction to the red card, which included raising his fist in apparent anger, further escalated the situation.
The incident between Ronaldo and Al-Bulaihi seemed to trigger a broader confrontation between the two teams, involving other players such as Aymeric Laporte and Kalidou Koulibaly.
This is not the first time Ronaldo has been involved in controversy since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023; earlier this year, he was suspended for a match and fined for making an obscene gesture in response to chants for his rival, Lionel Messi, during a match against Al-Shabab.
Despite his high-profile move to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has yet to win a trophy with his new team.
