Al-Nassr have defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the former Manchester United player was accused of making a gesture towards Al-Hilal supporters during their recent Saudi Pro League match.
Ronaldo, 38, played the full 90 minutes for the Jeddah-based team as they lost 2-0 to the reigning Saudi Arabian champions. One-time United loanee Odion Ighalo scored a goal in each half to seal all three points for the side reportedly trying to tempt Lionel Messi to the Kingdom this summer.
Fans were also quick to draw parallels between the way Ighalo celebrated his goals by falling to his knees with arms outstretched and looking upwards towards the sky, similarly to how Messi has done so at last year's World Cup. The former Watford striker celebrated this way several times during his stint in the Premier League though, including at Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Ighalo outshines Ronaldo as Al-Nassr lose
Home fans also directed Messi chants towards Ronaldo throughout the game as the Portugal international went scoreless for a second straight match and received a yellow card from referee Michael Oliver following a headlock-esque challenge on an opposition player. Following the match, footage filmed from the stands showed Ronaldo grabbing his crotch while walking off the pitch, which was interpreted by some being directed towards the fans taunting the forward with chants about long-time rival Messi.
Following the incident, there were calls for Ronaldo to be punished and even deported from Saudi Arabia for his actions. Lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed reacted and wrote on social media: "It is considered a crime of public dishonor, and it is one of the crimes that entails arrest and deportation if committed by a foreigner," he also signalled his intent to file a complaint to the Saudi Prosecutor's Office for his "crime of public indecency".
But his club have now commented on the incident, backing the player. An Al-Nassr statement on the incident, released to journalist Muhammed Al-Enezi, and relayed by Squawka, has sought to explain the incident. It reads: “Ronaldo suffers from an injury. His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area. This is confirmed information. As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want.”
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