Cristiano Ronaldo shocks Saudi football fans with 'lewd gesture' to fans after Messi chants

Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the centre of a decency scandal after appearing to thrust his groin towards fans of the opposing side while playing for Saudi football team Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo, who plays up front for Al-Nassr, appeared to have made the gesture after his team lost 2-0 to rival Riyadh team Al-Hilal on Tuesday.

Throughout the match, Al-Hilal fans taunted Ronaldo with 'Messi' chants as the Portugal native went a second game without scoring.

Video from the game purportedly shows the 38-year-old grabbing his groin as he left the pitch, in a crude show of defiance to the Al-Hilal fans.

The gesture sparked fierce backlash - including calls for him to be deported from Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr justifica gesto de Ronaldo: "Ronaldo lesionou-se numa zona sensível durante um lance com Cuellar."pic.twitter.com/EVHhAWlGIY

— Cabine Desportiva (@CabineSport) April 21, 2023

Saudi law professor Nouf bin Ahmed called Ronaldo's apparent crotch grab "a crime of public dishonour".

"It is one of the crimes that entails arrest and deportation if committed by a foreigner,"Ahmed wrote on Twitter. 

"Even if the crowd provoked Ronaldo, he didn’t know how to react. Cristiano’s behaviour is a crime,” he continued. 

Other Saudis also expressed their disgust and distaste for the Portuguese forward’s seemingly disrespectful behaviour.

But Al-Nassr were quick to rush to the defence of their star signing, claiming that he had sustained a crotch-area injury during the match.

"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," the club said.

Despite the tawdry saga, Ronaldo was keen to get back to winning ways and win over the Saudi public, sending out Eid messages ahead of Al-Nassr’s next match. 

Focus in preparation for semi-final 💪🏽#EidMubarak to all those celebrating today. pic.twitter.com/tr4ql651zh

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 21, 2023

Some football fans advised Ronaldo against any future lewd behaviour.

"Just don’t do it again," tweeted Al-Nassr fan Abdullah al-Bashiri. 

"You must respect this country and its people, try to become a man - like Messi," wrote another.

Speculation has swirled for months over a potential move by Argentine football star Lionel Messi to the Saudi football league - and to Al-Hilal in particular.

Other football legends including manager Jose Mourinho have also reportedly been offered lucrative contracts to join the Saudi league.