Portuguese football authorities are mounting an urgent appeal to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from missing crucial World Cup matches after the superstar received a controversial red card against Ireland.
The Incident That Sparked Controversy
During Portugal's 2-0 defeat to Ireland in Dublin on Thursday, the 40-year-old footballer was dismissed after appearing to elbow Republic of Ireland defender Dara O'Shea. The straight red card means Ronaldo automatically faces suspension, though the exact length remains unclear.
The veteran forward missed Sunday's 9-1 thrashing of Armenia, which secured Portugal's qualification for next year's World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. However, the real concern lies ahead - if FIFA imposes a multi-match ban, which is standard procedure for direct red cards, Ronaldo would miss Portugal's first two World Cup games next summer.
Portugal's Three-Pronged Defence Strategy
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) plans to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, arguing that any suspension should only apply to the already-played Armenia qualifier. FPF president Pedro Proenca has taken personal charge of the appeal process, presenting three compelling arguments.
Firstly, the federation points to the hostile atmosphere at Dublin's Aviva Stadium and actions by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson that allegedly contributed to it. The Icelandic coach had previously accused Ronaldo of influencing the referee during earlier encounters between the teams.
Secondly, Portugal's defence claims Ronaldo was provoked by O'Shea grabbing his shirt immediately before the incident occurred.
Finally, they're appealing to Ronaldo's exemplary disciplinary record at international level - this marked his first red card in 226 appearances for Portugal, an extraordinary statistic spanning nearly two decades of service.
Managerial Reactions and What Comes Next
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez staunchly defended his captain after Thursday's defeat, insisting Ronaldo's actions weren't violent. "Of course we spoke," the former Everton manager stated. "I think it's difficult for a player like Cristiano, who is in the area. Today he had two defenders in constant physical contact."
Martinez emphasised: "There's no violence. He tried to free himself from the defender and had the bad luck that the VAR... the angle of the images makes it look worse than it was. This is Ronaldo's first red card with the national team - it's incredible."
Ireland manager Hallgrimsson offered his perspective, suggesting Ronaldo "lost concentration a bit, and maybe the fans too." The Icelandic coach added: "He was frustrated and reacted in a way he knows he shouldn't. It was a foolish decision to attack our player."
As the appeal process begins, all eyes will be on FIFA's decision, which could significantly impact Portugal's World Cup campaign and Ronaldo's potential farewell tournament appearance.
