A “misunderstanding” over the obscene gesture that resulted in his suspension from a Saudi Pro League match, Cristiano Ronaldo said, adding, “everyday I try to be a better man.”
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation punished the captain of Al Nassr and Portugal with a one-match suspension for appearing to make a gesture that incited opposing fans following his team’s 3-2 league victory over Al Shabab, a rival team in Riyadh, on February 25.
Ronaldo, 39, missed his team’s subsequent league match, a 4–4 tie with Al Hazm, while serving his suspension.
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At a press conference, Ronaldo stated, “I take this opportunity to talk about the case in which I was punished for a game.
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“I made a mistake with what I did. I have and always will appreciate other cultures around the world, but reality is not always what it seems.”
The former Real Madrid player had been agitated in Saudi Arabia before after being made fun of by rival supporters who were yelling Lionel Messi’s name.
“Sometimes the passion of the game leads us to make some mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes,” Ronaldo stated. “I don’t make them intentionally every time. I strive to be a better man every day.”
When asked if he could behave better, Ronaldo responded, “I’m a human being, so I can’t promise. Nobody is flawless. Errors are a part of life.
I can assure you that I am a player that plays with passion, sacrifices everything on the field, and has an unwavering will to win. As a player, I find it annoying when I witness others acting in an unsportsmanlike manner. It gives me great pleasure to be in Saudi Arabia and to be representing Al Nassr.
