Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines once again, this time for refusing to collect his runners-up medal after Al-Nassr’s 4-1 loss to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final.
The Portuguese superstar’s actions left many questioning whether he would face a fine, but recent reports have dismissed those claims.
Ronaldo, visibly frustrated after his team squandered a 1-0 lead—courtesy of his own goal—stormed off the pitch at the final whistle, bypassing the medal ceremony.
His behavior, which included accusing his teammates of “falling asleep” and even making a lewd gesture, sparked rumors that he might face a financial penalty for breaching Saudi football’s rules.
MORE: All the latest soccer action | Cristiano Ronaldo news
No fine for Ronaldo’s medal refusal
The rules state that any player who refuses to collect their prize without an acceptable excuse could be fined and stripped of their awards.
However, Saudi journalist Walid Al-Faraj was quick to shut down these rumors. He sarcastically suggested that Ronaldo could easily justify his actions by claiming he “went to the bathroom,” a reason that would be deemed acceptable under the rules.
Ronaldo’s frustration was clear, but according to Al-Faraj, the idea of the football icon being fined 20,000 Saudi riyals (£4,000/$5,000) is unfounded. This incident adds to the narrative of Ronaldo’s fiery nature on the field, something Manchester United fans are all too familiar with.
As Al-Nassr prepares to kick off their new Saudi Pro League season against Al-Raed, Ronaldo and his teammates will be looking to bounce back from their Super Cup disappointment. All eyes will be on the Portuguese star to see how he responds after the controversial end to the final.
