Ronaldo banned from debut against Musona’s Al-Tai

Cristiano Ronaldo is banned from making his Al-Nassr debut today as he still has to serve an FA ban for smashing an Everton fan’s phone.

Al Nassr were due to lock horns with Knowledge Musona’s Al-Tai last night, but the match was postponed to today due to an electrical fault at the Mrsool Park Stadium.

The club took to social media: “Due to heavy rain and weather conditions impacting the stadium’s electricity, we have been officially informed that tonight’s match against Al-Tai is postponed for 24 hours. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to fans and wish everyone safe travels.”

Many outlets had reported that it was likely Ronaldo would make his debut for his new club in this clash.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the Portuguese forward was banned from playing in the tie, for which all 28 000 seats had reportedly been sold. In November 2022, the striker was hit with a hefty fine and suspended for two games by the English Football Association following a controversial incident that saw him smashing a fan’s phone when United suffered a defeat to Everton in April.

With Ronaldo leaving United that same month, he was not able to serve his suspension.

The ban will, as a result, now carry to his new club, who will have to play their next two competitive matches without the forward, according to FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

Article 12.1 of the regulations reads: “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.”

Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiah have claimed that Ronaldo would not have been able to start against Al-Tai for multiple reasons anyway as a foreign player still has to leave Al Nassr first, while the club also still needs a Certificate of Competence from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to allow the superstar to play in the country.

Meanwhile, Al Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has also said that the 37-year-old still needs to work his way back to full fitness. – Kickoff.com