Cristiano Ronaldo and Merih Demiral could be facing disciplinary action following the latest edition of the Saudi Clasico, according to a legal consultant.
The match, which took place on Friday, April 4, 2025, saw Al Nassr suffer a heavy 5-1 defeat to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. However, it was an incident after the final whistle that has drawn attention.
Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show Ronaldo and Demiral making gestures toward the Al Hilal bench after the match. The exact nature of the gestures has been the subject of debate, but legal expert Dr. Ahmed Al-Mutairi believes they could violate Saudi football regulations.
“Based on the footage, both players may have committed an act that falls under unsportsmanlike conduct,” Al-Mutairi said. “The Saudi Football Federation’s disciplinary regulations clearly prohibit any gestures that provoke opponents or the crowd.”
The consultant pointed to Article 57 of the federation’s disciplinary code, which covers “inciting hatred or contempt” and could lead to a ban of up to four matches and a fine of 200,000 Saudi riyals.
Al Hilal’s 5-1 victory was a dominant display, with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, and a hat-trick from Aleksandar Mitrovic. The result widened the gap at the top of the table, with Al Hilal now 12 points clear of second-placed Al Nassr with seven games remaining in the 2024-2025 season.
The Saudi Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee has not yet announced whether it will open an investigation into the incident. However, Al-Mutairi stressed that the committee has the authority to act on its own initiative based on available evidence.
“The committee does not need a formal complaint to start proceedings,” he explained. “If the footage is deemed clear enough, they can issue sanctions directly.”
Ronaldo, 40, has been a key figure for Al Nassr since joining in January 2023, while Turkish defender Demiral, 27, has been a regular starter this season. Both players have yet to comment publicly on the matter.
Al Nassr’s next league match is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025, against Al Khaleej. It remains to be seen whether either player will be available for selection.
