SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Ronaldo Suspended For One Match For Obscene Gesture In Saudi League Game –
Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match after appearing to make an obscene gesture following Al Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al Shabab, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) said on Wednesday.
After the final whistle on Sunday, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at the rival Al Shabab supporters.
In the background, chants of “Messi” could be heard, referencing Ronaldo’s long-term football rival from Argentina.
The committee said the Portuguese star would have to pay a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) to the Saudi Football Federation, and 20,000 riyals to Al-Shabab to cover the costs of the complaint filing fees.
The committee said the decision is not subject to appeal.
In April last year, the 39-year-old Ronaldo appeared to grab his genitals while on his way to the dugout following the end of a league game against Al Hilal, which Al Nassr lost 2-0.
-Reuters
A fan at the Saudi Super Cup final lashed an Al-Ittihad player with a whip during a confrontation moments after the match Thursday night.
The incident occurred following Al-Ittihad’s 4-1 loss to Al-Hilal in the final played at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
A video circulating on social media shows striker Abderrazak Hamdallah throwing water from a bottle at the fan, who responds by pulling out a long whip and lashing at the Morocco international twice — appearing to hit the player’s back the second time.
The 33-year-old Hamdallah, who had missed a penalty but later scored his team’s only goal during the game, did not appear to be injured.
As Hamdallah’s teammates stepped in, the fan was guided away by another spectator and a security official. In the video, the fan did not appear to be detained.
A young fan in a wheelchair was nearly caught in the middle of the altercation. Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema plays for Al-Ittihad but was not close to the incident. Injured Al-Hilal star Neymar didn’t play in the game but helped his team lift the trophy during the celebrations.
In 2023, the Super Cup was expanded from a single game between the league champions and King’s Cup winners to include the runners-up from both competitions. It was also moved to Abu Dhabi.
Al-Ittihad did not respond to a request for comment.
Hamdallah played on the Morroco team that reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He came on as a substitute in three group-stage games.
He is in his sixth season playing in Saudi Arabia.
-AP
SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Ighalo’s former club, Al-Hilal set world record for consecutive victories with 28th win
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal which Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo played for until last season, have set a world record for consecutive victories by a top-flight team after beating Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the Asian Champions league quarter-finals on Tuesday for a 28th straight win.
Jorge Jesus’ side beat the previous record of 27 consecutive victories by Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints (TNS) from the 2016-17 season. TNS had beaten Ajax Amsterdam’s 26-game winning streak, a record that had stood for 44 years.
“This is truly an incredible achievement and I want to thank everyone at the club for their part in this momentous winning record,” said manager Jesus.
“As I have said throughout this period, however, records do not matter as much as trophies. It is up to everyone at Al Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. Only then can we truly celebrate.”
Jesus’ side lead the Saudi league with 65 points, 12 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, who were eliminated from the Asian Champions League on Monday after a penalty shootout loss to Al-Ain.
Al-Hilal, the 2022 runners-up, will face Al-Ain in the semi-finals.
Jesus’ side can extend their winning run when they host Damac in the league on Saturday.
-Reuters
SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Ighalo’s former club, Al-Hilal set world record for consecutive victories with 28th win –
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal which Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo played for until last season, have set a world record for consecutive victories by a top-flight team after beating Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the Asian Champions league quarter-finals on Tuesday for a 28th straight win.
Jorge Jesus’ side beat the previous record of 27 consecutive victories by Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints (TNS) from the 2016-17 season. TNS had beaten Ajax Amsterdam’s 26-game winning streak, a record that had stood for 44 years.
“This is truly an incredible achievement and I want to thank everyone at the club for their part in this momentous winning record,” said manager Jesus.
“As I have said throughout this period, however, records do not matter as much as trophies. It is up to everyone at Al Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. Only then can we truly celebrate.”
Jesus’ side lead the Saudi league with 65 points, 12 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, who were eliminated from the Asian Champions League on Monday after a penalty shootout loss to Al-Ain.
Al-Hilal, the 2022 runners-up, will face Al-Ain in the semi-finals.
Jesus’ side can extend their winning run when they host Damac in the league on Saturday.
-Reuters
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