Cristiano Ronaldo is pictured before he was sent off against Ireland during the World Cup 2026 Group F qualifier at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Arrive for dinner, stay for seconds: to the surprise of absolutely no one, Cristiano Ronaldo has been cleared to start in Portugal’s opening match of the World Cup after Fifa’s disciplinary committee ruled to suspend the final two games of his three-game ban.
No doubt to the delight of Donald Trump, Ronaldo has been granted a reprieve from the threat of starting the World Cup on the sidelines, following his red card for violent conduct against the Republic of Ireland earlier this month.