New Delhi: Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s well-known intensity was on full display once more, this time following a controversial red card issued to his Al-Nassr teammate Jhon Duran during their 3-2 defeat to Al Ettifaq.
Duran was sent off for lightly slapping the back of Ettifaq midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki’s head during stoppage time. Al-Malki immediately fell to the ground, rolling in apparent pain, which convinced the referee to issue a red card. Ronaldo was visibly unhappy with the referee’s decision and raged towards the touchline as Al-Nassr lost a key player. In frustration, the 40-year-old kicked a stationary ball into the stands.
Angry Cristiano Ronaldo after his teammate Jhon Duran received an unusual red card in their 2-3 loss at home to Al Ittifaq in Suadi Pro-League yesterday 🤬🟥 pic.twitter.com/LUWBk50iQI
— Muhammad Arif (@muhammadarifiub) February 22, 2025
Al-Nassr were leading 2-1 in the 81st minute but conceded an own goal by Mohammed Al-Fatil, throwing away the three points. To compound their woes, former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scored his second goal of the night, securing the victory for the visitors.
Al-Nassr considering appeal against red card
Al-Nassr are considering an appeal against the red card issued to Jhon Duran, as he faces a potential suspension for upcoming matches. Duran joined Al-Nassr in January for an $80 million transfer from Aston Villa and has since scored four goals for the Saudi Pro League club.
Head coach Stefano Pioli addressed the incident in his post-match remarks acknowledging the actions of both Ronaldo and Duran. He said, “I’m not happy with the red card, [but] our players have to be calm. We could have played better but mistakes cost me a lot today and caused the loss. Today’s match started well and we took the lead, but what made the difference were mistakes.” He added, “We did not lose the match for tactical reasons but because of the individual mistakes we made.”
What’s next for Al-Nassr?
The club are currently fourth in the Saudi Pro League standings after playing 21 games and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad. The defeat even ended a seven-game unbeaten streak.
Cristiano Ronaldo rages as Al-Nassr suffer a late 3-2 defeat to Al Ettifaq after Jhon Duran’s controversial red card. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
