Portugal Appeals To FIFA As Ronaldo Faces Potential Extended Suspension

‎A source from the organisation told Lusa on Saturday that the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a submission to FIFA to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from receiving a suspension longer than one match.

‎The move follows his sending off against the Republic of Ireland. The submission, prepared with the involvement of FPF president Pedro Proenca, is intended to ensure Ronaldo avoids a suspension at the start of the 2026 World Cup.

‎It centres on the atmosphere created before the match by the Republic of Ireland’s coach and the details of the incident. It also stresses Ronaldo’s clean disciplinary history, noting he had never been sent off for Portugal before.

‎Hallgrimsson comments on Ronaldo’s behavior

‎According to the federation, which has been informed by FIFA of the disciplinary proceedings against Ronaldo, recent comments by coach Heimir Hallgrimsso have worsened the situation.

‎Hallgrimsson had accused Ronaldo of influencing the refereeing during their 1–0 meeting at Alvalade.

‎The federation says these remarks “created a clearly and demonstrably hostile environment around the national team captain.”

‎The FPF also argues that, in the incident leading to the sending off, Cristiano Ronaldo “was, as on many other occasions during the match, blatantly held inside the box” and reacted out of “frustration,” resulting in the Portuguese international elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea.

‎FPF Argument on Ronaldo’s Red Card

‎The organisation also highlights Ronaldo’s clean disciplinary record, stressing that his red card in the 61st minute in Dublin was the first of his more than 200 appearances for Portugal. They say this is remarkable and reflects his consistently exemplary conduct.

‎According to the same source, “the FPF is confident that these arguments are more than sufficient mitigating factors to convince FIFA that Cristiano Ronaldo does not deserve a suspension longer than one match.”

‎Ronaldo was released from national team duties on Friday as Portugal prepares to face Armenia in Porto on Sunday in the final round of Group F qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

‎If he receives a suspension longer than one match, the Al Nassr star could miss World Cup fixtures should Portugal qualify directly.

‎The 2026 tournament will run from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

‎Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his Portugal career on Thursday in Dublin, receiving a straight red card from Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg after a clash with O’Shea.

‎The dismissal came in his 226th appearance for the national team. Portugal had the chance to seal their ninth overall and seventh consecutive World Cup qualification.

‎However, they fell 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland, with Troy Parrott scoring both goals.