Referee Glenn Nyberg talks with Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2026 World Cup Group F qualifying soccer match. (Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Cristiano Ronaldo faces a potential three-week wait to learn the extent of his FIFA ban following a red card incident in Portugal’s 2-0 loss to Ireland on Thursday. The Portugal star could face a two- or three-match ban for elbowing Ireland defender Dar O’Shea during a 2026 World Cup qualifier.FIFA usually takes three weeks after the qualifying rounds to issue global disciplinary decisions, including red cards and incidents of crowd disturbance. Although there is less of a time crunch now that the World Cup is not played until March, Ronaldo’s case has received considerable attention.FIFA declined to provide a specific timetable for a decision on Friday. The mandatory one-match suspension will be served when Portugal host Armenia on Sunday, where victory would see them reach the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.FIFA disciplinary rules call for a minimum two-match ban for foul play or a minimum three-match ban for violent conduct. These additional matches must be played in World Cup competition, assuming Portugal qualify, rather than friendlies.The incident occurred around the 60th minute at the Aviva Stadium when Ronaldo turned and elbowed O’Shea in the back with his right elbow while waiting for a cross. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but changed it to a red card after reviewing the incident on the monitor.“I don’t think it’s the elbow, I think it’s the whole body,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. “Obviously, when he’s trying to get away from the defender, I think the action looks worse than what it really is.“But from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow,” Martinez added. “We accept it. It might be a red card, but for the right reasons.”FIFA’s disciplinary committee must now decide whether Ronaldo’s actions constitute a serious foul or violent behaviour. Martinez defended Ronaldo’s overall disciplinary record, noting that it was his first red card in an international game.“He is simply a captain who has never been sent off in 226 games before,” Martinez said. “They grabbed him, pulled him, pushed him. I think it was a little rough because he cares about the team.”FIFA’s decision could come after the Dec. 5 World Cup draw, which will determine each team’s group-stage opponents.Aged 41 in February, Ronaldo is looking to make history by appearing in his sixth World Cup tournament, a milestone his rival Lionel Messi is also hoping to achieve. Messi has received two red cards in his international career – one on his debut for Argentina in 2005 in a friendly against Hungary and the other in the 2019 Copa America third-place match against Chile.
