Cristiano Ronaldo says obscene gesture in response to rival fans chanting Lionel Messi's name that saw him BANNED was a 'misunderstanding'
- Ronaldo, 39, thrust his pelvis in the direction of rival fans after Al-Nassr scored
- Saudi Arabian football authorities banned him for a game and issued a fine
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Cristiano Ronaldo has labelled the obscene gesture that saw him banned for a match a 'misunderstanding' as he insisted he'd never disrespect Saudi culture.
The Al-Nassr star, reacting to rival Al-Shabab fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' throughout the game, thrust his pelvis towards the crowd after his side scored a late winner last month.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation [SAFF] responded by issuing the 39-year-old with a one-match suspension and a 30,000 Saudi Riyals [£6,250] fine.
Ronaldo duly missed his team's 4-4 draw with Al-Hazm in the Saudi Pro League, but speaking this week the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward set the record straight.
'What I did was a misunderstanding. I will always respect the cultures of all countries, but what people see is not always reality,' Ronaldo said.
![Cristiano Ronaldo was banned for a match and fined after making an obscene gesture to celebrate Al-Nassr's win over Al-Shabab last month after rival fans taunted him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82350603-13186401-image-a-3_1710232282193.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo was banned for a match and fined after making an obscene gesture to celebrate Al-Nassr's win over Al-Shabab last month after rival fans taunted him
![After the home fans taunted him with Messi chants, Ronaldo appeared to make an obscene gesture](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/81707915-0-After_the_home_fans_taunted_him_with_Messi_chants_Ronaldo_appear-a-1_1710232159880.jpg)
![Reports claim that the Saudi FA have since opened an investigation into the incident](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/81707917-0-Reports_claim_that_the_Saudi_FA_have_since_opened_an_investigati-a-2_1710232159886.jpg)
Ronaldo appeared to make an obscene gesture following Al-Nassr's win over Al-Shabab
![Al-Shabab fans had chanted the name of Ronaldo's rival Lionel Messi (right) to taunt him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82351137-13186401-image-a-10_1710232555054.jpg)
Al-Shabab fans had chanted the name of Ronaldo's rival Lionel Messi (right) to taunt him
![Ronaldo was criticised after he grabbed his crotch in response to fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' when Al-Nassr played Al-Hilal last season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/69994709-13186401-A_clip_in_April_appeared_to_show_Ronaldo_making_an_obscene_gestu-a-20_1710232737341.jpg)
Ronaldo was criticised after he grabbed his crotch in response to fans chanting 'Messi, Messi' when Al-Nassr played Al-Hilal last season
'As I said and I will say again, it is obvious that I will not do it again in this country, but in Europe, it is very normal.
'Sometimes the passion and excitement of the game leads us to make some mistakes.
'Whenever I make them, I don't do it on purpose. Every day I try to be a better man.'
The Portuguese star added: 'What I can promise is that I am a player who gives everything on the field, a player with passion, a player who always wants to win.
'I'm a player who doesn't like to see people doing unsportsmanlike things. I am happy to be in Saudi Arabia and happy to represent Al-Nassr.'
Ronaldo was criticised for similar actions during a 2-0 defeat by Al-Hilal in April last year when he responded to more 'Messi' chants by grabbing his crotch.
Al-Nassr defended his actions at the time by saying Ronaldo had 'received a blow during the match' to his genitals.
Ronaldo endured another night to forget on Monday as he somehow missed the target from three yards out as Al-Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League to Al-Ain.
![Ronaldo inexplicably missed the target from only three yards out with the goal gaping](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82335753-13186401-Cristiano_Ronaldo_inexplicably_missed_the_target_from_only_three-a-11_1710232615294.jpg)
Ronaldo inexplicably missed the target from only three yards out with the goal gaping
![The 39-year-old was stunned by his miss and looked to the official in the hope of seeing a raised flag](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82335751-13186401-The_39_year_old_was_stunned_by_his_miss_and_looked_to_the_offici-a-12_1710232622373.jpg)
The 39-year-old was stunned by his miss and looked to the official in the hope of seeing a raised flag
![Ronaldo could have put his side ahead on the night and level on aggregate in their AFC Champions League clash](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82335757-13186401-Ronaldo_could_have_put_his_side_ahead_on_the_night_and_level_on_-a-13_1710232625883.jpg)
Ronaldo could have put his side ahead on the night and level on aggregate in their AFC Champions League clash
![Ronaldo's side crashed out of the AFC Champions League as Al-Ain beat them on penalties](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/08/82351205-13186401-image-a-14_1710232648128.jpg)
Ronaldo's side crashed out of the AFC Champions League as Al-Ain beat them on penalties
Trailing 1-0 to the Emirati side from the first leg of the quarter-final tie, Al-Nassr conceded twice in the first-half to leave themselves a mountain to climb.
However, they staged an astonishing comeback by scoring three goals to take the game to extra time.
Sultan Al-Shamsi restored Al-Ain's advantage but Ronaldo converted a penalty to take the game into a shoot-out, with Al-Nassr down to 10 men by this point.
But although Ronaldo converted his penalty in the shoot-out, three of his team-mates - including ex-Man United defender Alex Telles - missed theirs as Al-Ain won 3-1 to reach the last four.
It wipes out the chance of another trophy for Ronaldo this season, with Al-Nassr currently 12 points behind leaders Al-Hilal in the Pro League.
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