Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Football, Roberto Martinez
Cristiano Ronaldo will return home following his red card in Portugal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifier loss against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
It was a night to forget for those associated with Portugal in the Irish capital on Thursday. Troy Parrott’s first-half brace handed the hosts the advantage heading into the second 45 minutes.
Despite having more than 77 percent of possession, Roberto Martinez’s side - which included Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, as well as former Chelsea star Joao Felix - could not break down Ireland’s resolute defence.
And Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side’s task was made somewhat easier when Ronaldo was sent off on 61 minutes.
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The Portugal skipper was initially shown a yellow card by referee Glenn Nyberg for swinging his elbow into Dara O’Shea.
But after VAR review, the ref upgraded his decision to a red card – the first of Ronaldo’s 226-cap international career.
Ironically, ahead of the match, Ronaldo had promised “to be a good boy” when asked how he’d combat the Irish supporters booing him.
Shortly after his dismissal, Ronaldo became embroiled in a heated exchange with the Ireland boss, as well as sarcastically applauding the crowd as he walked towards the tunnel, accompanied by a chorus of jeers.
The Al Nassr forward will definitely be banned for Portugal’s next match against Armenia on Sunday, while he is also likely to miss the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Violent conduct often carries an extended suspension, which would only be served in competitive fixtures. FIFA judges each incident on a case-by-case basis.
Since the red card, Portugal-based outlet A Bola has reported that Ronaldo has “been released” and will not be present for the decisive match against Armenia in Porto on Sunday.
A win would secure their spot at next summer’s tournament.
Speaking after last night’s game, Portugal boss Martinez described the dismissal as “a bit harsh” before adding that Ronaldo “deserves credit” for having never been sent off before in international football.
"He's just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games, so I think that deserves credit," he said.
"Today, I think it was a bit harsh, because he cares about the team. He had 60 minutes of being grabbed, being pulled, and being pushed.
"Obviously, when he tries to get away from the defender, the action looks worse than it actually is. I don't think it’s the elbow, I think it's the full body. But from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow.
"We accept it because it is a red card. But it is for the right reasons; he cares, he was in the mood of the team, and we were frustrated."
