Cristiano Ronaldo BANNED from Al-Nassr clash tomorrow by FA

The English Football Association has BANNED CRISTIANO RONALDO from making his debut for Al-Nassr tomorrow.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 37, is now the highest-paid athlete in history after agreeing to a lucrative £173 million-per-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club.

Ronaldo, who was released by Manchester United last month following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, arrived in Riyadh on Monday and was met by a large crowd of fans.

The forward then had his medical on Tuesday ahead of his official unveiling at Al-home Nassr’s stadium, Mrsool Park, and later joined his new teammates in their first training session.

Al-Nassr were hoping to give the Portuguese star his big debut tomorrow after selling out all 28,000 seats for their match against Al Ta’ee.

However, he has been informed that he will be suspended as a result of the FA’s punishment for slamming an Everton supporter’s phone out of their hand.

Following the incident with the autistic fan at Goodison Park in April, Ronaldo received a two-game ban and a fine from the FA in November and did not play for the Red Devils again.

Merseyside Police issued a caution to Ronaldo, who was walking down the tunnel, after he shoved the young boy’s phone out of his hand after Everton defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison Park.

He later issued an apology via social media for his “outburst” and issued an invite for the supporter to be his guest for a game at Old Trafford “as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship”.

He wrote: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.

“Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.

“I would like to apologise for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”

But the 14-year-old Jake – who has autism – – declined the forward’s offer and refused to accept his apology.

Due to the break for the World Cup, Ronaldo was unable to serve his suspension before his explosive United exit and now that ban will carry on to his new club.

And that effectively bars Al-Nassr from playing their new talisman until they have completed two competitive matches that he is available for.

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 FA clarified that he must serve his suspension even if he moved abroad in their written reasons when they imposed the ban days after his high-profile interview with Morgan.

They wrote: “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.

After tomorrow’s match, Al-Nassr are not back in action until Saturday 14 January in a derby against Al-Shabab.

They then face Ettifaq at home on January 21 – which now looks set to be Ronaldo’s first match.