Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has had a disastrous fortnight in international competition after being sent off in Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.
Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portuguese camp after receiving a shocking red card in the defeat against Ireland. The Portuguese icon was sacked during his country’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland earlier this week.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders for allegedly elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. He was initially given a yellow card, but VAR intervened before the referee increased the penalty.
Ronaldo was handed an automatic one-match suspension for his red card and will miss Sunday’s match between Portugal and Armenia. And Portuguese reports say he has been released from international duty.
The 40-year-old will return to Saudi Arabia ahead of his return to action with club team Al Nasr, who will face Al Khaleej next weekend. In response to Ronaldo’s red card, Portuguese national team manager Roberto Martínez said: “The red card is for a captain who has never been sent off in 226 games. I think that’s something to be praised for, but today I thought it was a little tough because he’s thinking about the team.”
“He was there in the 60th or 58th minute when he was grabbed, pulled, pushed and obviously trying to get away from a defender in the box.
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“I think the action looks worse than it actually is. I don’t think it’s an elbow. I think it’s a full body, but from the camera position it looks like an elbow. But we’ll take it.”
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is that in yesterday’s press conference, the coach was talking about the influence of the referee. Then the moment Cristiano turned his body, the big centre-half fell so dramatically to the floor.”
Meanwhile, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said: “He praised me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his actions on the pitch that gave him the red card. It had nothing to do with me, as long as I didn’t get in his head.”
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Asked after the match if he had spoken to Ronaldo, Hallgrimsson said: “No, I think we spoke enough when he was sent off.
“There was nothing to talk about. I would say this was just one moment of stupidity on his part.”
Ronaldo’s dismissal could mean Portugal will miss the start of the World Cup. If the country automatically qualifies, and if Ronaldo’s suspension is extended to three games, he could miss the first two games of the competition’s group stage.
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