Ronaldo could miss World Cup opener after first Portugal red card in 22 yrs

Dublin (TIP)- Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic dismissal in Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland has thrown his World Cup availability into uncertainty.
The red card, his first in 22 years of international football, arrived on a night when Portugal were looking to seal direct qualification but were undone by two first-half strikes from Troy Parrott. The suspension rules him out of the final Group F qualifier against Armenia and could extend into the 2026 FIFA World Cup depending on FIFA’s disciplinary ruling and Portugal’s qualification route.
Ronaldo was involved in an off-the-ball clash at the Aviva Stadium, initially booked for swinging an elbow at defender Dara O’Shea. VAR upgraded the caution to a straight red, leaving referee Glenn Nyberg with little 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 Code allows for a stricter sanction. Chapter 2, Article 14(i) states that a player dismissed for “assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent” should serve a three-match ban. Further guidance suggests a minimum of three matches for violent conduct or “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time” for assault.
If the Disciplinary Committee opts for the harsher penalty and Portugal top Group F, Ronaldo would miss the Armenia match and potentially the first two group-stage games of the World Cup. If Portugal slip into the playoffs, the suspension could instead be served in those fixtures, freeing him for the tournament opener. The committee’s ruling will determine the final length of his ban.
Portugal’s defeat leaves them two points clear of Hungary, with victory 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 has tightened the group and increased scrutiny on the disciplinary hearing.
Reaction from the Ireland camp acknowledged the contentious nature of the incident. One member noted: “I think the action looks worse than what it actually 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 manager Heimir Hallgrmsson detailed his brief exchange with Ronaldo: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card just a moment of silliness from him, I would say.”
Portugal coach Roberto Martnez defended his captain. “A captain who has never been sent off in 226 games deserves credit,” he said. “Today it felt harsh. He had spent almost an hour being grabbed and pushed in the box, and when he tried to get away from the defender”