Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic sending-off in Portugal’s 2-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland has thrown his World Cup availability into doubt. The red card, his first in 22 years of international football, came on a night when Portugal looked to seal direct qualification but were undone by Troy Parrott’s two first-half strikes. The suspension will rule him out of the final Group F qualifier against Armenia and could extend to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, depending on FIFA’s disciplinary decision and Portugal’s qualification route.
Ronaldo was involved in an off-the-ball clash at the Aviva Stadium, initially adjudged to have elbowed defender Dar O’Shea. VAR raised the caution to a straight red, leaving referee Glenn Nyberg with no choice. The decision not only complicated Portugal’s task on the night but also their immediate future as they still need a win against Armenia to guarantee automatic qualification.
Because the incident is classified as violent conduct, FIFA’s disciplinary rules allow for a more severe penalty. Chapter 2, Article 14(i) states that a player sent off for “assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or striking an opponent” should serve a three-match ban. Other guidelines suggest a minimum of three matches for violent conduct or “at least three matches or a reasonable time” for assault.
If the disciplinary committee opts for a harsher punishment and Portugal top Group F, Ronaldo would miss the Armenia match and potentially the first two games of the World Cup group stage. Should Portugal slip through to the play-offs, the suspension could be served in those matches instead, freeing him to open the tournament. The commission’s decision will determine the final length of his ban.
They are two points clear of Hungary after defeating Portugal, with a win over Armenia still enough to secure top spot. They beat Armenia 5-0 in the reverse fixture, Ronaldo scoring twice, but the setback in Dublin tightened the group and increased scrutiny at the disciplinary hearing.
The reaction from the Irish camp acknowledged the contentious nature of the incident. One member commented: “I think the action looks worse than it really is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.” He added that the only frustration stemmed from pre-match comments about referee influence.
Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrmsson described his brief exchange with Ronaldo: “He praised me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card, I would say.”
Portugal coach Roberto Martnez defended his captain. “A captain who has never been sent off in 226 matches deserves credit,” he said. “It was rough today. He spent almost an hour being tackled and pushed into the box and trying to get away from a defender.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 14, 2025
