Cristiano Ronaldo sees red in Al Nassr Super Cup Loss

Cristiano Ronaldo had a moment to forget on Monday night as he was sent off for violent conduct in Al Nassr’s Super Cup semi-final defeat to Al Hilal.

The Portuguese star was shown a straight red card in the 86th minute after appearing to elbow an opponent in the chest. Ronaldo was also seen to raise his arm in an attempt to strike the referee, although he did not make contact.

The incident occurred after Ronaldo had become increasingly frustrated with his performance and the outcome of the match. Al Hilal were leading 2-1 at the time and Ronaldo’s dismissal all but ended Al Nassr’s hopes of a comeback.

Ronaldo’s red card is the first of his career in Saudi Arabia and it comes at a time when he is under increasing scrutiny. The 38-year-old has scored just five goals in 13 appearances for Al Nassr since joining the club in January.

It remains to be seen what punishment Ronaldo will face for his actions. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation could impose a fine or suspension, while FIFA could also take action.

Ronaldo’s red card is a major blow to Al Nassr and it will be interesting to see how they respond without their star player. The club will be hoping that Ronaldo can learn from his mistake and return to action in a positive frame of mind.