Cristiano Ronaldo hit with suspension, fines for rubbing rival's merch on his junk [Update]

Updated Feb. 29, 2024, 11 a.m. EST: Cristiano Ronaldo received a one-match suspension after rubbing opposing players’ merch on his genitals, according to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation.

The committee added that the former Real Madrid star will pay a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) to the Saudi Football Federation and 20,000 riyals ($5,332) to Al Shabab to cover complaint filing fees.

The decision is not subject to appeal.

Losing to a rival club must have rubbed Cristiano Ronaldo the wrong way.

The Al Nassr forward was seen on social media taking what appears to be a blue and white Al Hilal scarf and shoving it down the front of his shorts before tossing it back at the crowd.

Fans were tossing merch at Ronaldo as he made his way down the tunnel following his side’s 2-0 loss. Throughout the game, Al Hilal supporters chanted Lionel Messi’s name each time Ronaldo touched the ball.

As of this writing, Ronaldo has not publicly commented on his actions.

Ronaldo, who turned 39 this week, leads the Saudi Pro League with 20 goals. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner departed Manchester United in December 2022 to join Al Nassr. Ronaldo is signed through 2025 and earns $75 million per year with the club.

The game against Al Hilal was Ronaldo’s first since Dec. 30. He suffered a calf injury in January. As a result, the team had postponed its preseason tour in China, and the forward issued an apology to fans for missing those games. Ronaldo was also absent from his club’s 6-0 beatdown of Messi’s Inter Miami side.

He played all 90 minutes of the exhibition Riyadh Season Cup. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al-Dawsari scored both of Al Hilal’s goals.

Al Nassr is currently second in Pro League standings (15-3-1), seven points behind Al Hilal (17-2-0).