VIDEO: "Saudi lawyer calls for deportation of Cristiano Ronaldo over alleged obscene gesture
A Saudi lawyer has demanded the deportation of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after he allegedly made an obscene gesture during a match.
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The incident took place on Tuesday as the former Manchester United player, now with Al Nassr, faced Al Hilal in Riyadh.
The 38-year-old was heckled by fans after the game by supporters chanting the name of Lionel Messi, during which he appeared to grab his crotch.
🔴🔴🔴 .. إن لم يصدر قرار عاجل يبعد هذا المتغطرس ويحمي ابناءنا من هذه القذارة فعلى الدنيا .. السلام ..!!
#الهلال_النصر pic.twitter.com/PZVrkP1wnk— خالد بن عبدالله (@khalidalsahli6) April 18, 2023
If proven, such behaviour is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
Lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed has filed a complaint with the Saudi Prosecutor’s Office, stating that Ronaldo committed “a crime of public indecency” and calling for his arrest and deportation.
“It is considered a crime of public dishonour, and it is one of the crimes that entails arrest and deportation if committed by a foreigner,” said the lawyer specialising in International Law.
The incident has generated widespread coverage on Saudi Arabia’s most popular sports programme, “Action ya Dawri”.
According to Al Nassr sources, Mohamed al Anzi, an employee of the show, stated that the Portugal star made the gesture because he had been hit during the match.
However, other Saudi sports journalists were unimpressed and urged the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to cancel Ronaldo's contract.
Ronaldo, who has made 198 appearances for Portugal, has scored 11 goals in 11 league games for Al Nassr this season.
