‘Went to the bathroom!’ – Cristiano Ronaldo fine claims rubbished after Al-Nassr star’s refusal to collect Saudi Super Cup runners’ up medal
Cristiano Ronaldo refused to collect his runners’ up medal after Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup defeat, but claims that he will be fined have been denied.
The Portuguese star was evidently frustrated after Al-Nassr surrendered a 1-0 lead in the Saudi Super Cup final – courtesy of a Ronaldo goal – to lose 4-1 to Al-Hilal. Ronaldo accused his team-mates of falling asleep, and aimed a lewd gesture in their direction, and stormed off the pitch at the full-time whistle. The 39-year-old didn’t return to collect his runners’ up medal, prompting some to wonder whether he would receive a fine.
Manchester United fans know only too well that Ronaldo isn’t prone to leaving the pitch prematurely. But doing so in Saudi is a breach of the rules, which stipulate that “anyone who refrains from receiving the prizes without an acceptable excuse will be punished by being deprived of the allocated prizes (financial and in-kind) and a fine”. However, Saudi journalist Walid Al-Faraj has rubbished the notion of the forward incurring a fine of twenty-thousand Saudi riyals (£4,000/$5,000).
Al-Faraj said: “Without an acceptable excuse? He will tell you (I went to the bathroom!), this is an acceptable excuse. What will you tell him then?!”
Ronaldo and Al-Nassr will try to get over their Super Cup defeat when they take on Al-Raed in the opening round of the new Saudi Pro League season on Thursday (August 22).
