Ronaldo’s Fury Grows After Controversial Red Card Costs Al Nassr

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his frustration following a controversial red card that led to Al Nassr’s 3-2 defeat against Al Ettifaq on February 21, 2025. The match marked a significant setback for the club as they fell further behind in the Saudi Pro League title race.

In the dying moments of the match, Al Nassr’s Jhon Jader Duran received a straight red card after a seemingly harmless incident involving Al Ettifaq midfielder Abdulelah Al Malki. Duran, who joined the team in January for a reported £64 million, was seen lightly slapping Al Malki on the back of the head while play had paused. Despite protests from Ronaldo and other teammates, Russian referee Kirill Levnikov responded quickly, issuing a red card to Duran.

The decision sparked an emotional outburst from Ronaldo, who confronted the officials on the pitch. “This is absolutely ridiculous,” Ronaldo was reported to have said, demanding a review of the incident. His frustration culminated in him kicking the ball off the field in anger, illustrating his discontent with the referee’s decision. The defeat relegated Al Nassr to fourth place in the standings.

“Our players need to remain calm,” Al Nassr manager Stefano Pioli said in the post-match press conference. “I’m not happy with the red card, but we must take responsibility for the mistakes that cost us the game.” The defeat not only ended Al Nassr’s seven-match unbeaten streak but also left them eight points behind league leaders Al Ittihad, who have played one game less.

Ronaldo remains a standout performer in the league, currently leading the scoring chart with 16 goals across 20 matches. Despite his individual success, Al Nassr has struggled to convert player talent into collective success, having yet to secure any official titles in the current season.

Ronaldo’s frustrations highlight a growing concern among fans and analysts about Al Nassr’s ability to capitalize on their star-studded lineup, including Aymeric Laporte and Marcelo Brozovic. The team’s deficiencies in defense have been evident, especially in recent matches, raising questions about their title aspirations. “If we want to win titles, we should learn from what other successful teams like Al Ittihad are doing,” Ronaldo noted post-match.

As they prepare for their next match against Al-Wehda on February 25, 2025, Al Nassr seeks to regroup and address the issues that have hindered their performance this season. Ronaldo, despite the challenges, remains focused and eager to turn the tide as they pursue their championship dreams.