Cristiano Ronaldo is at risk of missing Portugal’s opening match at next year’s World Cup. The star forward was shown a red card in Portugal’s 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday. Ronaldo was initially given a yellow card after elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. However, the referee upgraded the decision to a red card after reviewing the incident on video.
This was Ronaldo’s first-ever red card in his 226 matches for Portugal. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez expressed his disagreement with the decision. “I don’t think it was an elbow,” Martinez said. “It looked worse than it was on camera.” He added that the red card could be justified, but only for the right reasons.
As a result, Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s upcoming match against Armenia. The match will take place on Sunday, but Portugal can still qualify for the World Cup with a win. Portugal leads Hungary by two points in Group F and needs to clinch a victory to secure a spot in the tournament.
FIFA’s disciplinary rules could mean a longer suspension for Ronaldo. For “serious foul play,” a player can be banned for at least two matches. If the offense is deemed “violent conduct,” the ban can be extended to three matches. FIFA has yet to issue a ruling, but the verdict could take up to three weeks.
Ronaldo’s goal of playing in his sixth World Cup is now uncertain. Despite his red card, his leadership remains crucial for Portugal’s success. Coach Martinez described him as “a captain who cares about the team” and hoped the decision would be reconsidered.
