The record-breaking Portuguese star is now free to play in next summer’s tournament opener despite being sent off for violent behavior in a recent match in Dublin
It’s good to have friends in high places. In the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, it was certainly very high.
The Portuguese superstar’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals were put in jeopardy after his red card against Ireland resulted in a three-match suspension to his name. However, following his visit to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump last week, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee determined that a three-game suspension was indeed appropriate. However, unless there is a similar violation during the probation period, the final two games will be a one-year suspension.
He has already served a one-match suspension for Portugal’s final qualifying match against Armenia, which they beat to qualify for next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. That means he will be able to return from next June’s off season.
convenience? surely.
But is it that bad? Does FIFA, perhaps more than anyone else, think it makes sense to effectively pardon one of the sport’s all-time greats at next summer’s marquee event? Andy Dunn and John Cross have diametrically opposed views on the subject…
read more: England’s World Cup hopes get a big boost as FIFA confirms fundamental changesread more: Erling Haaland brutally confesses that he doesn’t want Cristiano Ronaldo
World Cup postponement shows FIFA and Gianni Infantino have no shame
Written by Andy Dunn
About a week ago, Cristiano Ronaldo took a selfie with Gianni Infantino at the White House. FIFA then handed Ronaldo a three-game suspension, but decided that the final two games of the suspension would be suspended, making Ronaldo eligible for selection from the first day of the World Cup.
FIFA and Infantino don’t care what this looks like at all. That’s brazen. But FIFA and Infantino are being spectacularly brazen.
Around the time Donald Trump lost out on the Nobel Peace Prize, FIFA announced it would award its own annual peace prize, with the first winner to be celebrated at the World Cup draw in Washington next week. That’s brazen.
Trump will win. In the future, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, wins. That’s brazen. And FIFA is clearly not ashamed to give Ronaldo this reprieve.
Dara O’Shea’s elbowing in the 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland was so blatant that he was given a harsh red card that deserved a three-game sanction. The first match was held when Portugal faced Armenia in the final qualifying round. Portugal’s first two games of the 2026 World Cup were to be the remainder of his suspension.
Their failure to do so is as predictable as it is scandalous. FIFA has cited rules that allow some sanctions to be suspended, but that provision is rarely invoked.
The scheme does not appear to apply to Nicolas Otamendi and Moises Caicedo, who will miss the first World Cup match after being sent off when Argentina played Ecuador in September. That’s strange.
Ronaldo is probably one of the few players that President Trump has heard of and even met with at the White House, so he definitely knows him by now. Imagine Infantino, who now calls the US president a “close friend,” having to explain to Trump that Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s first two games of this tournament because of a violation he committed in a match nearly a year ago.
No doubt Mr. Trump would have told FIFA to fix the problem, and they did. Of course, it’s debatable whether that does Portugal and coach Roberto Martinez much favor.
Martinez continued to play as a 40-year-old player, while Ronaldo scored five goals in five World Cup qualifying games. However, Ronaldo did not score at Euro 2024 and only scored once at the 2022 World Cup. He recorded 1 assist at Euro 2024, but 0 assists at the 2022 World Cup.
At the last World Cup in Qatar, he was removed by coach Fernando Santos in the last-16 match against Switzerland and replaced by Gonzalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory. Ronaldo’s 226 caps without a red card before being sent off in Dublin appears to have been one of the reasons for the reprieve. That’s hilarious.
However, there is no doubt that he made a very notable contribution to the national team. However, Martinez has many options and is unlikely to spare Ronaldo.
But Infantino and FIFA will miss him. And if Ronaldo were to take to the pitch for Portugal’s first match, it would be yet another reminder that FIFA’s claims to upholding the integrity of the game can sometimes seem painfully hollow.
The White House visit paid off – now Ronaldo must deliver
Written by John Cross
Cristiano Ronaldo’s visit to the White House was certainly a delight.
The Portuguese superstar was pictured with Donald Trump in his office, before lining up for further snaps alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. And…hey, right away! The 40-year-old, one of the legends of the beautiful game, will be released a week or so later and cleared to play in the World Cup.
FIFA normally imposes a three-match ban for violent behavior, but Ronaldo was sent off earlier this month for elbowing Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea. Three days later, against Armenia, he was suspended for one game in which he was sent off, and as if by magic, he was also suspended for the other two games.
Ronaldo will have to act on his own for next year to avoid a call-up, but could still play for Portugal in the opening round of next summer’s World Cup.
A few observers believe this was actually a punishment for Portugal. At least they didn’t have to make the difficult decision to let Roberto Martinez, an aging legend on a great team, sit out for two games.
If you look at Portugal’s games, it seems like good players like Bruno Fernandes are still intimidated by Ronaldo’s presence. Even though Martinez has stressed this week that Ronaldo is having a positive impact on the team, he is more of a distraction than a help.
But back to the topic. FIFA set the tone here. They want big names to take part in the biggest show in the world.
That’s a strange precedent. But to be honest, we would have liked Wayne Rooney’s suspension for Euro 2012 to be reduced. He was sent off in the qualifying match against Montenegro and played in three games, but on appeal his suspension was reduced to two games and he missed two games in the tournament.
At the time, it didn’t seem like the biggest scandal. And in Ronaldo’s defense, he wasn’t intentionally elbowing players, he was pushing players away to get free.
Despite the red card, Ronaldo has played more than 200 games for Portugal and has never been sent off. This is also his last World Cup. He has announced that this will be his last time…well, until he changes his mind and plays in 2034, when he will be 50 years old.
Yes, this won’t work. But would it be so bad if there were no tariffs and FIFA was allowed wiggle room?
Sorry, I fly in the face of a logical and passionate argument. However, it appears that Lionel Messi will win the final World Cup. Argentina has been delivered. The stage was now set for Ronaldo.
But FIFA will also know that they have put themselves here. That’s an incredible precedent. Is it an exceptional case?
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