The Portuguese Football Federation is set to file a complaint with FIFA to challenge the length of Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension after his red card in Portugal's 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland. Ronaldo was sent off for swinging an elbow at defender Dara O'Shea, initially receiving a yellow before a VAR review prompted the referee to upgrade it to red. The incident could lead to a ban extending into the World Cup, but Portugal aims to limit it to one match.
Portugal suffered a 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night in Dublin, with Cristiano Ronaldo's dismissal proving pivotal. The 40-year-old forward was shown a red card by referee Glenn Nyberg after a VAR intervention for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea, following an initial yellow card. This marks Ronaldo's first red card in 226 appearances for Portugal, his national team record goalscorer.
The automatic one-match suspension means Ronaldo will miss Portugal's upcoming qualifier against Armenia on Sunday, which could secure their group-topping position and qualification for the 2026 World Cup. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee may impose a longer ban— at least two matches for serious foul play or three for violent conduct—potentially affecting the tournament's start next summer. A decision is expected after a three-week review process.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca is preparing a case to FIFA, arguing for no additional punishment beyond the automatic ban. The federation's points include a hostile atmosphere in Dublin, allegedly fostered by Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who previously accused Ronaldo of influencing the referee in the reverse fixture. They also claim Ronaldo was provoked through constant manhandling during the game, and highlight the lack of prior precedents for him internationally.
Portugal currently leads their qualifying group, and a win over Armenia would confirm their advancement.