Cristiano Ronaldo could miss World Cup games after expulsion

The Portuguese striker is at serious risk of being suspended and missing up to two games in the initial phase of the 2026 campaign, if Portugal qualifies for the national team tournament. The football star was sent off for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea in the second half of the European qualifying match this Thursday (13), in a match that the Portuguese lost 2-0 in Dublin.

Ronaldo will serve the mandatory one-game suspension imposed for any red card when Portugal host Armenia on Sunday. Isolated leader of Group F with ten points, the Portuguese team depends on a victory to guarantee their place in the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA’s disciplinary rules require its judges to impose a suspension of “at least two matches for serious foul play”. However, the hook must be “at least three games for violent conduct” or “at least three commitments or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.”

According to the football governing body, any suspension resulting from qualifying matches must be applied to official matches. In this case, the punishment could not be carried out in preparatory friendlies for the World Cup.

In the move that led to the expulsion, which happened around 15 minutes into the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo turned and elbowed the Irish defender in the back while they were waiting for the cross in the area. The referee showed the yellow card, but minutes changed his decision. He presented red to number seven, after being instructed to review the video on the monitor at the edge of the field.

The expulsion from the field provoked reactions from the Portuguese star. Cristiano Ronaldo made an ironic face as he left the field amid boos and jeers from the Irish fans. Afterwards, he stopped, looked at the fans, clapped his hands and raised both thumbs in an apparently sarcastic gesture.

*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nícolas Robert