Ronaldo at risk of suspension in World Cup

Portugal was supposed to celebrate a victory against Ireland, but they ultimately lost the match. The disappointment did not end there. In the 61st minute, Cristiano Ronaldo struck Ireland’s defender Dara O’Shea with his elbow, initially receiving a yellow card. Later, following the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision, the 40-year-old forward was shown a red card and sent off. More trouble awaits him.

Having received a red card for the first time in his international career, Ronaldo faces the risk of being banned for at least the first match of the 2026 World Cup. The Al Nassr forward will serve a mandatory one-match suspension due to the red card, which will apply in Portugal’s match against Armenia. A win in that game would send Portugal to the FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to FIFA regulations, a serious foul play warrants at least a two-match suspension, and violent conduct can result in a three-match or specified time ban. Actions like striking with an elbow are included. The suspension only applies to competitive matches, not friendlies.

After the match, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said, “This red card came for a captain who has never faced such an experience before. In today’s case, it seemed a bit harsh. He was trapped in the box for almost 58-60 minutes, receiving continuous challenges, and Ronaldo was trying to protect himself.”

The coach added, “I believe it was less severe than it appeared on camera. It was a full physical contest, not an elbow strike.”

Before the match, Ronaldo hoped to play as a ‘good boy’ in front of the fans, but in the end, the Al Nassr forward could not control himself.

Khaborwala/TSN