SPORTS DESK
FRANKFURT: Cristiano Ronaldo may be forced to sit out Portugal’s opening match at next year’s World Cup following the first red card of his international career, issued during Portugal’s 2–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
The incident occurred in Dublin, where Ronaldo was initially cautioned with a yellow card for catching defender Dara O’Shea with his elbow. After reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, the referee upgraded the booking to a straight red, sending the 39-year-old off for the first time in his 226 appearances for Portugal.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain, saying the replay made the clash appear more intentional than it was. “When he tries to break free from the defender, the movement looks worse on camera than in real time,” Martinez said. “I don’t see an elbow — more of a full-body motion. But we accept the referee’s call. It can be a red, but for the correct interpretation.”
Ronaldo will automatically miss Portugal’s upcoming fixture against Armenia on Sunday as a result of the suspension. Portugal currently holds a two-point lead over Hungary in Group F and can secure World Cup qualification with a win.
However, Ronaldo could face further disciplinary action. FIFA rules stipulate a minimum two-match ban for serious foul play and at least three matches for violent conduct or assault — including incidents involving elbows. Any additional suspension would apply to competitive fixtures only, meaning warm-up games before the World Cup would not reduce the ban. A final decision from FIFA may take up to three weeks.
Martinez expressed sympathy for his star player. “He’s our captain, and he’s never been sent off in 226 games. It felt a bit harsh — he always puts the team first,” he said.
Ronaldo is aiming to appear in his sixth World Cup, a milestone no male player has yet reached.
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