Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal in Al Nasr’s game against Al Shorta in the semi-finals of the Arab Champions Cup. The Portuguese forward scored a penalty in the 75th minute.
38-year-old Ronaldo scored a goal in the fourth game in a row. He previously scored against Raja, Zamalek and Monastir. Al-Nasr reached the final of the tournament, but many remember the match as something completely different.
What scandal did Ronaldo get into?
Immediately after the winning goal, Ronaldo ran to the stands and crossed himself. It is known that Ronaldo grew up in a Catholic family and this is not the first time he has been baptized in front of cameras. But in Saudi Arabia, the public demonstration of someone else’s faith is prohibited. Doing so may result in arrest, deportation, or financial penalties.
The official religion in Saudi Arabia is Sunni Islam. The country has a religious muttawa police force. Soldiers of the Sharia Guard constantly patrol the streets and public institutions in order to suppress attempts to violate the canons of Islam. If a violation is discovered, the perpetrator bears the appropriate punishment (from a fine to beheading).
How will Ronaldo be punished?
Public displays of non-Muslim faith led to numerous arrests and trials. For example, 10 years ago, Colombian Al-Nasr player Juan Pablo Pino was arrested in a shopping center building. The reason is unusual — his shirt did not cover the tattoo of Christ.
Former midfielder of the Russian national team and Al-Hilal Andrei Kanchelskis told SE that nothing threatens Ronaldo.
![](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/256c67bd1ddcf8194db6cae62a297c2b_cropped_666x375.jpg)
“I don’t think Ronaldo will have any problems. Do they go to mosques when they come to us? When I played in Saudi Arabia, I was baptized and wore a cross. Everything was fine. Everyone has their own religion, we must treat everything with understanding,” Kanchelskis said.
Judging by the media and social networks, local fans did not attach much importance to the incident. It is no secret that Ronaldo was invited to the championship in order to improve the image of the country and gain the right to host the World Cup. Therefore, it is unlikely that the authorities will show integrity.