Cristiano Ronaldo faces missing at least Portugal’s opening match at next year’s World Cup after receiving a red card in Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo initially received a yellow card after elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea during the match in Dublin.
However, it was shown a red card and Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career after the referee reviewed the contact on a pitchside video monitor.
“When he tries to get away from the defender, I think the action looks worse than it really is,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. “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. We accept that.
It could be a red card, but for the right reasons.”
Ronaldo will serve his mandatory one-match suspension when Portugal host Armenia on Sunday. Portugal, which still leads Hungary by two points in Group F, can clinch a World Cup berth next year if it secures a victory.
However, FIFA disciplinary rules state that a ban of at least two matches is required for “serious foul play” and for at least three matches for “violent conduct”, or for “an appropriate period for assault, including elbowing”.
Exhibitions leading up to the World Cup would not count towards a potential match ban, and it could be three weeks before FIFA issues its verdict.
This is the first red card Ronaldo has received in the record 226 matches he has played for Portugal.
“He’s just a captain who’s never been sent off before in 226 games,” Martinez said. “I think it was a little hard because he cares about the team.”
Ronaldo is looking to reach his sixth World Cup.
