By Emmanuel Okogba
Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for Portugal’s first two matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup despite receiving a red card in the 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.
Under normal circumstances, violent conduct results in a three-match suspension, which would have ruled the 39-year-old out of the first two matches of his country’s group-stage fixtures.
The Al Nassr forward was penalised for violent conduct in the 61st minute after appearing to elbow Dara O’Shea for an initial yellow card. After a VAR review, referee Glenn Nyberg changed his decision to a red and Ronaldo was given his marching orders.
However, FIFA has suspended the bans for the second and third matches for a one-year probationary period, leaving Ronaldo eligible to feature immediately. He has already served the first match of the suspension during Portugal’s qualifier against Armenia.
In a statement explaining the decision, FIFA said: “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”
The governing body is understood to have considered Ronaldo’s exemplary disciplinary record at international level, noting it was the first red card of his 226-cap career.
Ronaldo scored five goals in qualifying as Portugal won Group F to reach their seventh straight World Cup.
The group stage draw for next year’s World Cup set to hold in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico will hold on Friday, 5 December.
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