Cristiano Ronaldo: Players Punished for Offensive Gestures As Messi Chants Land Star in Trouble

• Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly facing a ban in Saudi Arabia
• The Al-Nassr star made an offensive gesture in a recent game
• We look at players who were banned for making lewd gestures

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in the news this week, but unlike when he hogs the headlines for reaching a milestone, this time, he was in it for all the wrong reasons.

It has proven to be a little bit easy to rile up the Al-Nassr star. His move to Saudi Arabia has been peppered with sections of fans chanting the name of his rival, Lionel Messi, and more often than not, he often responds.

His lewd gesture in Al-Nassr's win against Al Shabab has reportedly landed him in trouble, with CNN reporting that the Saudi Arabia Football Federation is investigating him. A two-match ban has been floated as one of the punishments.

Ankara Messi: What does this phrase mean, and where did it come from?

Football

Players who were punished for making offensive gestures

But as Sports Brief delves into it, if Ronaldo gets punished, he won't be the first player to get into trouble for making obscene gestures.

1. Dele Alli

At the height of his powers at Tottenham Hotspur, Dele Alli received a one-match ban while playing for the English national team.

Alli made the one-finger gesture in a 2018 World Cup qualifier match against Slovakia. As the Guardian reported, a Fifa spokesperson confirmed that the gesture contravened Article 57 of the disciplinary code.

Offensive content warning

2. Jack Wilshere

The then-Arsenal midfielder received a two-match ban for an offence similar to Alli's. He made the gesture during a Premier League match against Manchester City in 2013.

"The FA charged Wilshere with making an offensive, insulting, and/or abusive gesture during the fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 14 December. The incident was not seen by match officials but was caught on video," read FA's statement.

Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid star faces ban for allegedly using slur on Mason Greenwood

Football

3. Issa Alekasir

Issa Alekasir received one of the longest bans in football history for offensive gestures after he was banned for six months.

The Persepolis striker, as ESPN reported, was accused and found guilty of making a 'discriminatory gesture' after scoring against Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League.

4. Nicolas Anelka

The widely-travelled striker was banned for five games by the FA after he made the quenelle gesture after scoring against West Ham United.

Then at West Bromwich, the French striker made the gesture that is considered abusive to an ethnicity. religion or belief.

The quenelle involves pointing a straightened arm downwards while touching the shoulder of that arm with the other hand. It is believed by some to be a salute in France, as reported by CNN.

5. Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri

The two Swiss players avoided bans but were fined 10,000 Swiss francs each by FIFA following their 'double-eagle' celebrations against Serbia in the 2018 World Cup.

Prins Tjiueza transfer to Cape Town City hits frustrating medical snag for John Comitis

Football

The two players are of Albanian heritage with roots in Kosovo. Kosovo announced its independence from Serbia in 2008, though Serbia has never recognised her.

FIFA's disciplinary code outlaws any political messages or symbols in stadiums.

Did a fan provoke Ronaldo?

Sports Brief has also reported that Ronaldo might have been taunted by an Al-Shabab fan. New footage has shown the fan making a similar gesture to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner before the Portuguese icon responded.

It remains to be seen whether the Saudi Arabia Ethics and Disciplinary Committee will consider the incident in its investigation and expected ruling.