Saudi lawyer pushes for Cristiano Ronaldo to be arrested and deported for ‘obscene gesture’

A Saudi lawyer has called for the deportation of Cristiano Ronaldo following an allegedly obscene gesture.

The former Manchester United star was playing for Al Nassr against Al Hilal on Tuesday when the alleged incident took place.

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Khalid Al Sahli/Twitter

Ronaldo played the whole game in the 2-0 defeat, but was later heckled by fans at full-time.

The 38-year-old appeard to grab his crotch as he left the pitch, with supporters chanting the name of Lionel Messi inside the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

If deliberate, Ronaldo’s behaviour is considered illegal in Saudi Arabia.

After the video emerged on social media, lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed said she filed a complaint with the Saudi Prosecutor’s Office, adding Ronaldo is accused of committing ‘a crime of public indecency’.

“It is considered a crime of public dishonour, and it is one of the crimes that entails arrest and deportation if committed by a foreigner,” said the lawyer specialising in International Law.

The incident made headlines in Saudi Arabia, with hours of coverage on ‘Action ya Dawri’, the most popular sports programme in the Kingdom.

Mohamed al Anzi, who works for the show, spoke with Al Nassr sources, who claim the Portugal star made the gesture because he suffered a knock during the match.

Other Saudi sports journalists, such as Ozman Abu Bakr, were left unimpressed and called on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to terminate his contract.

Ronaldo, who has 198-caps for his nation Portugal, has netted 11 goals in 11 league games for Al Nassr so far this season.