Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play for Portugal as they start their World Cup campaign, despite receiving a nearly costly red card during qualifying.
Red Card Incident
The veteran forward was sent off during a tense qualification clash against the Republic of Ireland late last year. The match ended in a frustrating 2-0 defeat for Portugal. Ronaldo was dismissed in the 60th minute for an off-the-ball altercation with defender Dara O'Shea. After a VAR review, the referee issued a straight red card for an elbow strike.
Lengthy Ban and Appeal
The disciplinary committee handed down a strict three-game suspension as a penalty for the misconduct. This severe ruling threatened to sideline the iconic captain for the start of the World Cup. One game of the ban was served during Portugal's final qualification match against Armenia, which the squad won 9-1 without him.
FIFA Intervention
However, FIFA cleared the superstar for the World Cup by formally suspending the final two matches of his ban. Under Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which gives FIFA the right to commute or suspend bans, these games were deferred. The body cited Ronaldo's clean disciplinary record as a reason for the suspension.
Probation Period
Yet the legendary forward is essentially playing on thin ice under a 12-month probation. Any further disciplinary trouble on the pitch will instantly activate the remaining two-match ban.
World Cup Group Stage
Portugal begins their World Cup adventure against DR Congo in a massive Group K clash at Houston Stadium in Texas. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who is tipped to feature at some point in attack for the Seleção. Once the DR Congo clash concludes, the Portuguese squad must quickly shift focus to Uzbekistan on June 23, also at Houston Stadium. Their group stage wraps up with a highly anticipated showdown against Colombia on June 27 at Miami Stadium.
