Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Al-Nassr was delayed due to the ban

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Meanwhile, Amnesty International urged Ronaldo to use his “large public platform” to draw attention to Saudi Arabia’s “appalling human rights record” after his move to victory.

“The signing of Al-Nassr for Cristiano Ronaldo fits into a broader pattern of sportswashing in Saudi Arabia,” said Dana Ahmed, Middle East researcher at Amnesty International.

“It is very likely that the Saudi authorities will promote Ronaldo’s presence in the country as a means of diverting attention from the country’s appalling human rights record.

Instead of offering uncritical praise to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo should use his large public platform to draw attention to human rights issues in the country. Saudi Arabia regularly executes people for murder, rape and drug trafficking. On a single day last year, it executed 81 people, Many of them have been tried in grossly unfair trials.

The authorities also continue their crackdown on freedom of expression and association, with harsh prison sentences imposed on human rights defenders, women’s rights activists and other political activists.

“Cristiano Ronaldo should not allow his fame and celebrity status to become a tool for Saudi sporting laundering – he should use his time in victory to speak out about the country’s myriad human rights issues.”

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