Football/ Portugal to appeal Ronaldo’s red card in bid to aecure his 2026 World Cup debut
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing an urgent appeal to FIFA following the red card of Cristiano Ronaldo against Ireland, seeking to ensure his availability for the opening 2026 World Cup match of Portugal. The superstar was dismissed for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea during a 2-0 defeat, subsequently missing Portugal’s 9-1 victory over Armenia.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the federation will base its case on three key arguments: the hostile atmosphere at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, provocative shirt-pulling by O’Shea immediately before the incident, and Ronaldo’s pristine disciplinary record across 226 international appearances; this being his first career red card with the national team.
The appeal carries significant stakes. While Ronaldo has already served an automatic one-match ban, FIFA could extend the suspension to multiple games, potentially excluding him from Portugal’s initial World Cup fixtures.
The FPF, led by president Pedro Proença, contends that mitigating circumstances should reduce the punishment, though precedent suggests violent conduct sanctions typically focus on the act itself rather than a player’s history.
The outcome will determine whether the 39-year-old icon can feature from the start in what would be his record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance.
