Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t hide his feelings on the referee’s decision making in Al Nassr’s clash against Al Hilal.
The fierce Saudi Pro League rivals are going head-to-head in a top of the table clash on Friday – and as usual, Ronaldo was centre stage.
Ronaldo was furious with the referee at the break
But rather than him garnering attention with his football, it was his interaction with the referee that has caught fans’ attention.
Having taken the armband for his club after he signed in December 2022, footage shows Ronaldo took it upon himself to speak to the referee as the teams went down the tunnel for half time.
And despite his side being 1-0 up, Ronaldo clearly wasn’t impressed with the number of bookings the referee had given his team compared to the league leaders.
Marching over to the official, the former Manchester United star is heard saying: “We receive three yellow cards.
“Al Hilal have zero.”
Gesturing his frustration as he walked away, he adds: “Be fair for both teams!”
Ronaldo clearly felt his side’s three first half bookings, whilst their rivals picked up none, was unjust.
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic received the other two bookings for Al Nassr.
Unfortunately for the former Sporting Lisbon starlet, his side picked up another yellow card just after the break too.
This time, it was Abdullah Al-Khaibari that went in the referee’s book.
Finally, on the hour mark, Al Hilal picked up a booking, with Malcom being cautioned and Mohamed Kanno joining him three minutes later.
Al Nassr went 1-0 up in the first minute of the clash through Talisca.
Al Hilal found an equaliser in the 77th minute through Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, though.
Ronaldo will undoubtedly have been disappointed to have to settle for a point, but he will also have wanted to score.
With six goals this season, he is now the third-highest goal scorer in the Saudi Pro League.
He trails Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad, who has eight goals, while Aleksandr Mitrovic, a former Fulham striker and current Al Hilal star, is at the top of the tree with ten.
Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 31 games last season, earning him the Golden Boot.
Al Hilal leads the standings with six points, and Al Nassr is still in third place.
