Cristiano Ronaldo's career with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia seems to be under threat as the player has fallen into the trap of repeated provocations from opposing players and fans. Ronaldo made headlines in recent days following an incident where he struck Al Hilal defender Ali Al Bulaihi during a moment when the ball was not in play, an action that warranted a direct red card and suspension.
Al Bulaihi reportedly directed provocative words at Ronaldo during the match before the red card incident, as revealed by camera footage, to which the Portuguese star responded in a manner that ultimately led to his punishment. Ronaldo failed to recognize Al Bulaihi's usual tactic of provoking opponents, a strategy that has previously affected big stars, including himself, Lionel Messi, and Abdul Razak Hamdallah.
Footage showed Ronaldo so enraged that he nearly threw the ball at the referee in anger after the red card was shown, and he mocked the decision as he exited the field.
### Not the First Incident
The incident with Al Bulaihi is not the first time that Ronaldo has lost his composure and fallen into a pitfall. His time in the Saudi league has seen several similar incidents that have led to disciplinary actions against him, despite him joining Al Nassr less than a year and a half ago.
This was Ronaldo's second disciplinary action in less than two months, following his inappropriate gesture towards Al Shabab fans during the Riyadh derby on February 25. At that time, the Shabab fans attempted to provoke him by chanting for his rival Lionel Messi, to which the Portuguese star responded with an obscene gesture.
He was subsequently banned for one match (against Al Hazem) and fined 10,000 riyals. Regrettably, on February 8, Ronaldo stirred significant controversy again when he made another obscene gesture towards Al Hilal fans after the Riyadh Season Cup final. As he left the "Kingdom Arena," a fan threw a scarf bearing the Al Hilal emblem, which Ronaldo then used to make an offensive gesture.
In addition, he has notably protested against referee decisions on numerous occasions, resulting in several yellow cards.
### Calls for Deportation
It is notable that Ronaldo has not ruled out repeating such actions, potentially leading to similar incidents and more severe penalties. When asked about his obscene gesture towards Al Shabab fans, he responded, "Everyone makes mistakes, and I am human; I make mistakes like everyone else. I can't promise anyone anything, and what I did was misunderstood, especially since such actions are common in Europe."
While Ronaldo's gestures may be common in Europe, they conflict with the religious customs of Saudi Arabia, prompting backlash from fans, including calls for his deportation over concerns about such behavior spreading.
The criticism has not only come from fans and media figures but has also extended to past players and officials. Mohammed Al-Daeyea, a legendary player from Al Hilal, commented on the incident with Al Shabab, stating, "What Cristiano did was unethical, and we absolutely do not accept such behavior; these actions tarnish his image as a player who should be a role model." Meanwhile, former Al Hilal board member Abdul Karim Al-Jasser criticized Ronaldo in light of the Al Bulaihi incident, saying, "The Saudi sports project is innocent of the elder's actions, as innocent as the wolf from the blood of Joseph; we will not accept Ronaldo's behaviors."
Criticism did not come only from the Al Hilal side; it also extended to Mohammed Al-Sheikh, former spokesman for the Saudi Football Federation, who stated, "Cristiano played in Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy before coming to Saudi Arabia, and no one dared to ask for protection from his opponents." He added, "Enough is enough; Ronaldo is subject to the law and professionalism like any player... he has rights and obligations."
### Experience is Not Enough
On the other hand, Ronaldo's actions are shocking, given that he is a seasoned star who should manage pressure and provocations better. At 39 years old, Ronaldo has experienced many challenges and has excelled under immense pressure, such as in classical matches or derbies in major European leagues, as well as continental finals in the UEFA Champions League or the European Championship.
These actions come after his failure to win a major title with Al Nassr so far this season, with the possibility of ending the season with another disappointing run, as he has only secured the King Salman Club Cup last summer.
### Previous Incidents
Ronaldo's passion for breaking more records despite his age, alongside his refusal to accept defeat under any circumstances—even in friendly tournaments—has led him to fall into a trap of excessive aggression, a trait he has battled in previous phases of his career.
He struggled with this issue during his first spell at Manchester United when he lost his temper and recklessly intervened against Manchester City's Andy Cole in a derby in January 2006, resulting in a red card. At that time, he clarified to the referee that his action was a response to being fouled by a City player without reprimand.
We cannot forget the incident where Ronaldo pushed Pep Guardiola in the chest on the sidelines during the November 2010 El Clasico, which ended with a humiliating 5-0 defeat for Real Madrid. He also threw the captain's armband in anger on two occasions, the first after a controversial incident where a teammate's actions led to the disallowance of his goal against Spain in a friendly in 2010, and the second in protest of the referee disallowing a goal against Serbia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Additionally, he made an obscene gesture to former Athletic Bilbao player Javi Martinez during a match between the two teams in 2012, which later became evident that Martinez had provoked Ronaldo with words, prompting his inappropriate response.
