Escape from Ronaldo’s Crisis: Jesus Faces a Fresh Fine in Saudi Pro League

Context and Consequences

The Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who leads Al Nassr, again skipped a mandatory pre-match press conference, marking his second consecutive absence. Local reports say the decision came ahead of the clash with Al Ittihad, set for Friday in round 21 of the Roshen Saudi Pro League. This is the latest twist in a season already crowded with drama around the club and its stars, and it added a layer of tension to a busy week in Saudi football.

Saudi football authorities require coaches to hold pre-match press conferences, and failure to comply is handled under the league’s media regulations. The rulebook leaves little room for ambiguity: the coach must speak before the game, and failure to do so carries financial penalties that rise with each offense. The absence is not viewed as a mere scheduling glitch but as a disciplinary matter that can affect the team’s standing and the coach’s relationship with the league.

Under Article 101 of the league’s “Media, Content and Broadcast” regulations, the fines escalate in a staged manner: the first offense carries a 50,000 SAR penalty with a suspension that runs until the end of the season; the second offense doubles to 100,000 SAR and lifts the suspension only then; the third offense jumps to 250,000 SAR; and a fourth repeat offense could reach 500,000 SAR. A bigger problem would arise if the issue recurs, potentially altering the coaching fate and the club’s media strategy.

This marks Jesus’ second absence in three days — the first came after their win over a Riyadh neighbor, which left the press conference after the match with questions unanswered and headlines unsatisfied. The disciplinary framework, including the “Discipline and Ethics” section, has a dedicated clause (Article 63) addressing delays or absences from official press events after matches, emphasizing the seriousness with which such obligations are treated.

Many observers speculate that the recurring absence might be a deliberate move tied to the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo saga. Ronaldo, who has refused to participate with the team amid disagreements over the transfer market, has been at the center of off-field noise as Al Nassr’s rivals have been ramping up activity, most notably Al Hilal, which has pursued big-name signings such as Karim Benzema. Ronaldo’s absence from the recent Riyadh match, followed by a return to training on Wednesday, leaves his involvement in the upcoming match against Al Ittihad uncertain and fuels rumors about his future with the club.

There are also reports that Jesus might share Ronaldo’s frustration and could be weighing his own options for the future if the situation persists. As the transfer window hums along, the two men’s fates appear increasingly intertwined with the club’s management choices and the league’s regulatory framework. Punchlines aside, if press conferences paid the bills, Jesus would have bought a small country by now. And if Ronaldo’s saga gets any longer, even the press room might need a calendar to keep track of all the twists and turns.