Cristiano Ronaldo has been cleared to play in Portugal's opening World Cup matches after Fifa's disciplinary committee suspended two games of his three-match ban for violent conduct. The forward was sent off during Portugal's shock defeat to the Republic of Ireland on 13 November for elbowing defender Dara O'Shea.
The committee ruled on Tuesday that Ronaldo would serve a one-game ban, with the remaining two matches suspended under a one-year probation period. He has already sat out Portugal's final World Cup qualifier against Armenia, effectively serving the suspension.
Fifa's disciplinary code typically mandates a minimum three-match ban for assault, including elbowing. However, under Article 27 of the code, the judicial committee has the option to partially suspend a disciplinary measure. A Fifa statement confirmed that if Ronaldo commits a similar infringement within the probation year, the suspended matches will be automatically reinstated.
Ronaldo, 40, had never been sent off in a senior international fixture before this incident, despite playing 226 matches. The three-match suspension remains subject to appeal.
