The Korean league said it felt “disappointed and cheated” and demanded an apology from the Italian football champions after the Portuguese forward spent Friday’s game on the bench.
A sell-out crowd of 65,000 made its displeasure known during the game against a K-League all-stars team, which was delayed for an hour after Juventus arrived late from the airport.
After a flight delay, Juventus requested a police escort and also asked for the game to be cut to two 40-minute halves – a proposal that the K-League branded “ridiculous and insulting”.
“K-League cannot help but feel disappointed and cheated by Juventus for its shamelessness,” a K-League statement said.
More than 2,000 fans plan to sue the sports agency that organised the game, one of a series of pre-season appearances by European teams keen to promote themselves in Asia.
The K-League was unhappy with Juventus’s response to an initial complaint, saying it did not contain an apology or explanation.
The football body accused Juventus of a breach of contract by not playing Ronaldo, rejecting its explanation that he was rested on medical advice.
“Ronaldo did not play even for a minute, contrary to the contract guaranteed that he will play for at least 45 minutes,” the K-League said.
“If Ronaldo was unable to play, it would be a blatant deception to include Ronaldo as a substitute on the start list,” it added.
The K-League also criticised the club’s travel arrangements and questioned its assertion that it took nearly two hours to get through the airport.
“K-League clearly register our profound indignation and disappointment to Juventus’s irresponsible behaviour and manners, and we strongly urge Juventus to offer a sincere apology and explain the reason for Ronaldo’s no-show,” the statement said.
Fans have lashed out at Ronaldo, urging a boycott of products promoted by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, while “doing a ‘Naldo” has become a popular term for avoiding work in the office.
The controversy was even dragged into the political arena when opposition lawmaker Na Kyung-won reportedly said: “There is one thing in common between (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un and Ronaldo. They both perceive South Korea as a pushover.”