Portuguese FA Prepares an Appeal for Ronaldo’s Red Card

Key Takeaways:

• Portugal’s football federation will appeal against Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent red card
• Ronaldo received a straight red for striking Dara O’Shea during Portugal’s defeat to Ireland in Dublin
• The federation aims to reduce his suspension to keep him eligible for the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup

Federation Appeals Ronaldo Suspension

The Portuguese Football Federation has announced its intention to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card in a bid to ensure the star forward does not miss the start of the 2026 World Cup. This decision follows Ronaldo’s dismissal a few days ago during Portugal’s loss against Ireland in Dublin, where he was shown a straight red card for an incident involving Dara O’Shea.

🚨BREAKING : FIFA is considering a disciplinary decision regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, which could result in a SUSPENSION from the World Cup.

Portugal will appeal every decision. pic.twitter.com/9vXDxTR3Om

— MatchDay Central (@MatchDCentral) November 14, 2025

Implications of the Ban

Ronaldo, who has previously represented clubs including Real Madrid and Juventus, was absent for Portugal’s emphatic 9-1 victory over Armenia, which took place yesterday. Under standard disciplinary guidelines, a straight red card typically results in a three-match ban, provided there are no additional aggravating factors.

A suspension of three matches would mean Ronaldo is set to miss the first two fixtures of the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The Portuguese federation has moved to avoid this scenario, initiating an appeal process with FIFA in hopes of reducing the punishment to a one-match suspension – a ban already served during the Armenia match – thereby allowing Ronaldo to participate in the remaining World Cup group stage matches.

Suspension Details and Potential Impact