Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card in the last match was a stumbling block for Al Nassr. But they did not sit silently by the referee’s decision to red-card him in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al Hilal. Al Nassr contested the decision and appealed to overturn the Saudi League’s Disciplinary Committee’s decision to ban Ronaldo for two games. Besides, the Riyadh-based club has also requested the league authorities to summon a foreign panel of referees for the King’s Cup games. While the first appeal has failed, the request for a new refereeing panel seems to be a success.

As per Saudi Arabian journalist Al Tamim’s X handle, the King’s Cup organizers have approved Al Nassr’s request for a foreign refereeing entourage. This comes after Al Riyadhiah reported that Al Nassr requested the organizers to bring foreign referees to oversee their semi-final tie against Al Khaleej. As per the report, Al Nassr has also agreed to pay certain fees required for the refereeing entourage. The King’s Cup a.k.a Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup will kick-start on April 29 with an Al Hilal-Al Ittihad knockout tie. Thereafter, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. face Al Khaleej in the second semi-final on April 30.

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr coach Luis Castro condemned the referee’s calls during the Al Nassr-Al Hilal Super Cup game. Castro said Al Hilal won because of the refereeing. Before he received the red card, Ronaldo vociferously requested for a penalty in vain. Saudi Arabian referee, Muhammad Al-Quwaish had adjudged the Super Cup game. Anyhow, the Portuguese international’s confrontations with domestic referees have not been received well by the Saudi media. They have condemned the former Real Madrid star for his alleged bias against domestic referees.

Saudi media is not happy with Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr’s attitude to local referees

During the Riyadh derby in the Super Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo saw a second yellow and picked a red card after he aggressively elbowed the opposition’s Ali Albulayhi. When the referee penalized him, Ronaldo sarcastically clapped his hands and gestured a clenched fist at the official. Responding to these antics, former Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea said on live TV that CR7 would not have retaliated if the referee was a foreigner.

Al Nassr’s naysayers in the Middle East will increasingly be upset as their request for a foreign arbitrage has now found success. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is still suffering from the Al Hilal game’s official’s wrath. He will sit out for the Saudi club’s league games against Al Feiha and Al Khaleej. Anyhow, since the club has almost lost the Saudi League title race, they could afford the 39-year-old’s absence. Besides, the absence will give him ample time to recuperate for the decisive King’s Cup game.

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