Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be available for the start of Portugal’s World Cup campaign despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n
A FIFA disciplinary committee has imposed a three-match ban, but the final two games are suspended for one year provided there is no similar infringement during the probation period.<\/p>\n
He has already served the one-match suspension, in Portugal\u2019s final qualifier against Armenia, which they won 9-1.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo was shown a red card after swinging an elbow at Dara O\u2019Shea during a World Cup qualifier at Aviva Stadium earlier this month. Ireland won the game 2-0, following it up with a memorable 3-2 victory in Hungary to earn a place in March’s World Cup play-offs.<\/p>\n
Cristiano Ronaldo is given a red card after a VAR review for an elbow<\/p>\n
Mimicked tears, a clash with the Ireland manager and an all-time send-off from the crowd follow. Dublin is no longer “lovely” for him<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcfa Watch https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Live updates https:\/\/t.co\/TgtjK2dsDN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/E6IjPgPvaf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) November 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his skipper after the match, saying: “The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games \u2013 I think that just deserves credit \u2013 and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.<\/p>\n “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\u2026<\/p>\n “I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it\u2019s an elbow, I think it\u2019s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.”<\/p>\n FIFA\u2019s disciplinary code states violent conduct should lead to a suspension of at least three matches, as should any offence of assault, including “elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting at or hitting an opponent”.<\/p>\n Ronaldo, 40, confirmed earlier this month that next year\u2019s World Cup would “definitely”‘ be his last.<\/p>\n The suspension is subject to an appeal to the FIFA appeal committee.<\/p>\n O’Shea himself reflected on the incident on RT\u00c9 Radio 1’s Inside Sport<\/a> last week, admitting that he caught some flak from the Portuguese star’s devoted online fanbase.<\/p>\n “Ronaldo’s not the player to mess with. You know all about it on the phone afterwards!” joked O’Shea.<\/p>\n “But it is what it is. It’s football. Look, I think he understands that himself, first and foremost. The game’s the game.<\/p>\n “I was trying to do whatever I can for my country. I think at the time we were really frustrating him and them as group.<\/p>\n “So, yeah, the less I say, the better maybe…”<\/p>\n