Ronaldo liable to being banned for first sport of 2026 World Cup if Portugal qualify after pink card in opposition to Eire.
Revealed On 14 Nov 2025
Eire coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has stated Cristiano Ronaldo was fallacious guilty him for the red card he received as Portugal fell to a World Cup qualifying defeat.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner exchanged phrases with Hallgrimsson after being despatched off throughout Portugal’s 2-0 defeat in Dublin on Thursday.
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Ronaldo stated earlier than the sport the Eire coach had tried to place stress on the referee by telling the officers to not be influenced by the celebrity striker.
Along with his workforce trailing by two objectives within the second half, the 40-year-old was annoyed and elbowed Dara O’Shea in the back because the Eire participant marked him within the field.
“He complimented me with placing stress on the referee, however hear, it had nothing to do with me, it was his motion on the pitch that price him a pink card,” Hallgrimsson informed reporters.
“It had nothing to do with me until I bought into his head.”
He added, “This was only a second of a bit silliness for him, I’d say.”
It was Ronaldo’s first sending off in 226 appearances for the nationwide facet.
On the very least, Ronaldo will serve a compulsory one-game ban, however FIFA disciplinary guidelines require its judges to impose a ban of “not less than two matches for severe foul play”.
Regardless of the blatant elbow, Portugal supervisor Roberto Martinez stated the pink card was harsh.
“I believed it was a bit harsh as a result of he cares in regards to the workforce,” Martinez informed reporters. “He was virtually 60 minutes within the field being grabbed, pulled, pushed and clearly he tries to get away from the defender.
“I believe the motion seems worse than what it truly is. I don’t assume it’s an elbow; I believe it’s a full physique, however from the place the digicam is, it seems like an elbow. However we settle for it.”
Martinez additionally questioned Eire supervisor Heimir Hallgrimsson’s feedback about Ronaldo “controlling the referee” within the reverse fixture in Lisbon final month, which Portugal received 1-0.
“The one factor that leaves a bitter style in my mouth is on the press convention yesterday, Eire coach was speaking in regards to the facet of the referees being influenced, after which an enormous centre half falls on the ground so dramatically on the flip of Cristiano’s physique,” Martinez stated.
Portugal, who’re assured not less than a playoff spot, are two factors away from Hungary on the high of Group F with a superior purpose distinction. The Irish are one level additional again.
Portugal host Armenia whereas Eire journey to face Hungary within the closing spherical of fixtures on Sunday.
