The Portuguese Football Federation is mounting an appeal to FIFA to reduce Cristiano Ronaldo's three-match suspension following his red card in Portugal's 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland. The ban threatens to sideline the 40-year-old for key World Cup qualifiers and potentially the tournament's opening matches. Portugal's case highlights a hostile atmosphere, physical provocation, and Ronaldo's clean disciplinary record.
Cristiano Ronaldo received a straight red card during Portugal's 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday. The dismissal came after VAR reviewed an incident where Ronaldo was deemed to have elbowed defender Dara O’Shea inside the penalty area, initially shown as a yellow card before being upgraded.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), led by president Pedro Proenca, is preparing a formal complaint to FIFA aiming to limit the suspension to one match. Their three-pronged argument includes the 'hostile' environment at the stadium, influenced by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson's pre-match comments accusing Ronaldo of 'controlling the referee' in Portugal's 1-0 win in the reverse fixture. They also cite repeated physical grappling with O’Shea, suggesting Ronaldo reacted instinctively, and emphasize his impeccable record of 226 international appearances without a prior red card.
Under the current ruling, Ronaldo will miss Portugal's final World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Sunday in Porto. If Portugal tops Group F with a win—currently two points ahead of Hungary—the ban could extend to the first two matches of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, or into playoffs if needed.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended Ronaldo post-match, stating: 'The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games. 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.' He added criticism of Hallgrimsson's remarks and O’Shea's reaction.
Hallgrimsson responded to Ronaldo's on-pitch exchange: 'He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me, unless I got into his head.'
FIFA has not announced a timeline for its verdict, typically issuing decisions three weeks after international windows. A win over Armenia would secure Portugal's direct qualification, allowing Ronaldo to pursue a sixth World Cup appearance despite the looming uncertainty.