Top bosses of the Portuguese football federation have reportedly begun assembling an urgent appeal to FIFA in an attempt to cut down Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match suspension, a punishment that currently threatens to rule the 40-year-old out of the opening fixtures of what would be his sixth World Cup next summer. He was dismissed during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday after he was shown a straight red card after VAR adjudged that he had elbowed Irish defender Dara O’Shea.
World Cup at risk as ban looms over qualification push
Under the current ruling, Ronaldo will be unavailable for Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Sunday. Should Roberto Martinez’s side win and secure direct progression from Group F, Ronaldo would also be suspended for their opening two matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. If Portugal stumble and slip into the play-offs, the punishment would be carried into those decisive matches.
FPF preparing a three-pronged defence
A Bola reports that the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a formal plea to FIFA, hoping to bring the suspension down to a single match. Their argument hinges on three pillars. The first centres on the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium. It was a setting they describe as “hostile”. It was influenced by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s provocative comments on the eve of the match. Ahead of the game, he suggested Ronaldo had “controlled the referee” during Portugal’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture last month. Those remarks infuriated the visiting camp.
Secondly, the FPF will highlight the physical grappling between O’Shea and Ronaldo leading up to the red card, arguing the striker reacted instinctively after being tussled with repeatedly inside the box. Lastly, they will present Ronaldo’s impeccable disciplinary record at the international level. He has a staggering 225 caps without a single red card. It is a compelling evidence that Thursday’s incident was out of character and had no malicious intent. FPF president Pedro Proenca is personally involved in drafting the appeal, underlining how seriously the federation views the case.
Roberto Martinez has defended his captain
Ronaldo has already departed the Portugal camp and will not be present in Porto for the Armenia fixture. Speaking after the defeat in Dublin, head coach Roberto Martinez offered a measured but firm defence of his captain.
“The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games,” he said. “I think that just deserves credit and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team. He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed, and obviously, when he tries to get away from the defender…I think the action looks worse than what it actually is. I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference [Wednesday], your coach was speaking in regards to the side of the referees being influenced, after which an enormous centre-half falls on the ground so dramatically on the flip of Cristiano’s physique.”
Ronaldo entered Thursday’s match totally conscious he can be focused by the house crowd. He even joked beforehand that he can be a “good boy” amid the anticipated boos. The taunts arrived early and continued relentlessly, flaring much more brightly as soon as he was dismissed.
As he exited the pitch, Ronaldo responded with claps and a pair of exaggerated thumbs-up. It was a pointed gesture dripping with sarcasm. He exchanged sharp phrases with Hallgrimsson on his manner off. When requested later what Ronaldo had stated, the Eire coach replied with a wry smile: “He complimented me for placing stress on the referee. It was his motion on the pitch that price him the crimson card. It had nothing to do with me, until I bought into his head. It was his motion that price him. Until I bought into his head, it had nothing to do with me.”
He additionally revealed the pair didn’t communicate once more after the ultimate whistle: “No, I feel we talked sufficient when he got here off. It was only a second of silliness from him.”
FIFA but to set timeline amid international curiosity
FIFA has not given any indication of when a verdict can be reached. Traditionally, the governing physique publishes disciplinary rulings round three weeks after every worldwide window, however with no World Cup play-offs till March, this explicit case might not sit excessive on an pressing docket. Portugal stay prime of Group F, two factors forward of Hungary, and know {that a} win in opposition to Armenia will affirm their place at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup. A victory would safe the dream of a sixth World Cup for his or her iconic captain, albeit with the shadow of a potential suspension hanging over him.
