Portugal’s Ronaldo Faces Suspension Ahead of Key Matches

Under the current ruling, Cristiano Ronaldo will be unavailable for Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Armenia this Sunday. If Roberto Martinez’s team secures a victory and qualifies directly from Group F, Ronaldo will also be suspended for their first two matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Conversely, should Portugal falter and be forced into the play-offs, the suspension would carry over into those crucial matches.

According to A Bola, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a formal appeal to FIFA, seeking to reduce the suspension to a single match. Their argument is built on three key points. The first pertains to the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, which the FPF describes as “hostile”. This environment was exacerbated by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s provocative remarks prior to the match, suggesting that Ronaldo had “controlled the referee” during Portugal’s 1-0 victory in the previous encounter last month, which angered the visiting team.

Secondly, the FPF aims to emphasize the physical grappling that occurred between O’Shea and Ronaldo leading up to the red card, arguing that the striker reacted instinctively after being repeatedly challenged within the box. Lastly, they will highlight Ronaldo’s exemplary disciplinary record at the international level, with a remarkable 225 caps and no prior red cards. This evidence supports their claim that the incident on Thursday was out of character and devoid of malicious intent. FPF president Pedro Proenca is personally involved in drafting the appeal, underscoring the federation’s commitment to the case.

Ronaldo has already departed the Portuguese camp and will not be present in Porto for the Armenia fixture. Following the defeat in Dublin, head coach Roberto Martinez offered a measured yet strong defense of his captain. “The red card concerns a captain who has never been sent off before in 226 games,” he stated. “That in itself deserves recognition, and I believe today’s decision was somewhat harsh. He was subjected to physical play for 60 minutes, being grabbed, pulled, and pushed. When he attempted to escape the defender, the action may appear worse than it actually was. From the camera’s angle, it looked like an elbow, but I believe it was more of a full-body action. Nevertheless, we accept the ruling.

“What leaves a bitter taste is that during the press conference on Wednesday, your coach suggested the referees were being influenced, followed by a dramatic fall from a central defender just as Cristiano turned.”

Ronaldo entered Thursday’s match fully aware that he would be a target for the home crowd. He even jested beforehand that he would be a “good boy” amidst the anticipated boos. The taunts began early and intensified, particularly after his dismissal.

As he exited the pitch, Ronaldo responded with claps and exaggerated thumbs-up gestures, laden with sarcasm. He exchanged terse words with Hallgrimsson on his way off. When later questioned about Ronaldo’s comments, the Ireland coach replied with a wry smile: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. His actions on the pitch led to the red card; it had nothing to do with me, unless I managed to get into his head. It was solely his actions that cost him.”

He further noted that they did not speak again after the final whistle: “No, we had said enough when he left the pitch. It was merely a moment of silliness on his part.”

FIFA has not indicated when a verdict on the appeal will be reached. Historically, disciplinary rulings are published approximately three weeks after each international window. However, with no World Cup play-offs until March, this case may not be prioritized. Portugal currently leads Group F, two points ahead of Hungary, and understands that a win against Armenia will secure their qualification for next year’s World Cup, which would mark a sixth World Cup appearance for their iconic captain, albeit with the looming uncertainty of a potential suspension.