Cristiano Ronaldo is in danger of 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 upgraded to a red card and Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career after the referee reviewed the contact on a pitch-side video monitor.
“When he tries to move away from the defender, I think the action looks worse than it really is,” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez 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 hosts Armenia on Sunday. Portugal, which still leads Hungary by two points in Group F, can secure a place in next year’s World Cup with a victory.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary rules state that a suspension of at least two matches is required for “serious foul play” and of at least three matches for “violent conduct” or for “an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.”
Pre-World Cup exhibitions would not count toward fulfilling a potential match suspension, and it could take three weeks before FIFA issues a verdict.
It is the first red card Ronaldo has received in the record 226 games he has played for Portugal.
“He is simply a captain who has never been sent off before in 226 games,” Martínez said. “I think it was a little tough because he cares about the team.”
Ronaldo seeks to reach his sixth World Cup.
