After red card
©IMAGO
Cristiano Ronaldo can probably play in the first game for Portugal at the World Cup. Contrary to what many expected, the superstar’s ban after his red card in the qualifying game against Ireland is only valid for one game. Two more games have been suspended by the world association FIFA. The 40-year-old has already served his one-game ban for his national team’s 9-1 World Cup qualifying win against Armenia.
Ronaldo was sent off on November 13th after elbowing Ireland’s Dara O’Shea. If the two games had not been suspended, he would have had to watch his team start at the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. The former world footballer is aiming for his sixth World Cup participation – provided he doesn’t get injured and is nominated.
“In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the suspension for the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probationary period. Should Cristiano Ronaldo commit another offense of a similar nature and seriousness during the probationary period, the suspension established in the disciplinary decision will be deemed to be automatically lifted and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(s) of the Portuguese national team,” a FIFA statement said.
Typically, a mandatory time-out of three games is set for an assault. The FIFA judges can also claim mitigating or aggravating circumstances. The former apparently happened. For Ronaldo it was the first dismissal in his 226th international match.