Cristiano Ronaldo suffered an embarrassing moment at his unveiling for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr — saying he was happy to be moving to South Africa — and will be banned from making his debut this week as he is yet to serve a two-game FA suspension.
Ronaldo was handed the ban on November 23 after smashing an Everton fan’s phone from his hand when his previous club Manchester United lost a match at Goodison Park last April.
Ronaldo had left United in acrimonious circumstances the day before, and did not play in domestic action for any other team due to the World Cup in Qatar. Fifa regulations stipulate that the ban carries over to a different federation, meaning the Saudi fans must wait to see their new signing.
Article 12.1 of Fifa’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players says: “Any disciplinary sanction of up to four matches or up to three months that has been imposed on a player by the former association but not yet (entirely) served by the time of the transfer shall be enforced by the new association at which the player has been registered in order for the sanction to be served at domestic level.”
The point had been noted by the FA at the time it imposed the ban. It said: “We note the player has participated in a recently published interview in which he has criticised MUFC. We know not what effect that may nor will have on his future with that club nor whether it will take disciplinary action in respect thereof. The suspension we have imposed must have effect.
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“In other words, it applies to MUFC’s first team competitive matches for which he is eligible for selection. Should he leave MUFC before it completes two first team competitive matches the balance of the suspension will apply to any new club he should join.”
After Thursday’s match against Al-Ta’ee which Ronaldo will miss, Al-Nassr do not play again until January 14 in a derby against Al-Shabab. Ronaldo should then be available to face Ettifaq on January 21.
Ronaldo was this week greeted by fireworks and thousands of fans at Al-Nassr’s Mrsool Park stadium after completing a 2½-season deal said to be worth more than £170 million a year, but in his first press conference at the club he made an unfortunate faux pas.
“The football is different, so for me it’s not the end of my career to come to South Africa,” he said. “This is why I want to change, and to be honest I’m really not worried about what people say.”
Ronaldo completed his medical on Tuesday. He described himself as a “unique player” and insisted that he spurned offers to join clubs in Europe and Brazil to come and play in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese superstar, 37, was quick to reject any suggestion that his career was in decline.
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“It’s not the end of my career to come to Saudi Arabia. This is why I change and, to be honest, I’m really not worried about what people say,” he said.
“In Europe my work is done — I had many offers in Europe, many in Brazil, Australia, the US, even in Portugal. Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club.
“I’m a unique player. It’s good to come here, I broke all the records there [in Europe] and I want to break a few records here.”
The packed, 25,000-capacity Mrsool Park stadium erupted when the five-times Ballon d’Or winner walked on the pitch, saluting the crowd as fireworks and floodlights flashed around him.
His girlfriend, Georgina Rodríguez, wearing the traditional black abaya worn by most Saudi women, followed at a distance along with Ronaldo’s children.
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“I’m coming here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and culture of the country,” Ronaldo said.
Rudi Garcia, the Al-Nassr head coach, said signing Ronaldo was “fantastic” for Saudi Arabia.
“In my life, I’ve seen that great players like Cristiano are the simplest to manage, because there’s nothing I can teach him,” the Frenchman said. “My goal, my objective for Cristiano is to make him happy. I want him to enjoy playing with Al-Nassr and winning with Al-Nassr.”
Ronaldo arrives as Saudi Arabia considers a joint Asia-Africa-Europe bid to host football’s biggest tournament with Egypt and Greece.
