After elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during the Dublin match, Ronaldo was first given a yellow card. After receiving a red card during Thursday’s 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland, Cristiano Ronaldo may miss at least Portugal’s opening World Cup encounter next year. However, after the referee examined the incident on a pitch-side television monitor, it was upgraded to a red card, and Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career.
Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez stated, “I think the action looks worse than what it actually is when he tries to get away from the defender.” “I believe it’s a whole body rather than just one elbow. However, it appears to be an elbow from the camera’s point of view. We acknowledge it. For the proper circumstances, it might be a red card. When Portugal hosts Armenia on Sunday, Ronaldo will serve his required one-game suspension. With a win, Portugal, which is now two points ahead of Hungary in Group F, can guarantee a spot in the World Cup the following year.
FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, however, stipulate that “violent conduct,” “serious foul play,” or “an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing” must result in a minimum two-match suspension and a minimum three-match suspension. It might take three weeks for FIFA to render a decision, and pre-World Cup exhibitions would not count toward serving a possible match ban. In his record 226 games for Portugal, this is Ronaldo’s first red card. “He is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games,” Martinez stated. “I think it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.” Ronaldo wants to compete in his sixth World Cup.
