Cristiano Ronaldo and his fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After a controversial elbow on an Irish player during World Cup qualifiers, Ronaldo faced a potential three-match ban, which could have sidelined him for Portugal’s first two World Cup matches. However, FIFA has now confirmed he will play from the opening game.
FIFA ruled that Ronaldo’s elbow incident constitutes “violent conduct.” While the initial sanction was three matches, two of those matches have been suspended under probation, meaning they will only come into effect if he commits a similar offense in the future.
Ronaldo had already served the mandatory one-match suspension resulting from the red card, missing Portugal’s last qualifier against Armenia. Portugal won that match 9–1, securing direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
During the Ireland match, referee Glenn Nyberg initially showed a yellow card, which was later upgraded to red after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. This was Ronaldo’s first red card while playing for Portugal.
Table: Ronaldo’s Red Card & Disciplinary Action
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident | Elbow on Irish player |
| Initial card | Yellow |
| Final card | Red |
| Total ban | 3 matches |
| Suspended matches | 2 matches (probationary) |
| Mandatory served match | Armenia qualifier |
FIFA’s disciplinary code allows for probationary suspension, a rare move in international football. Normally, red cards result in automatic match bans without delay.
Ronaldo has been playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Earlier this month, he attended a formal dinner at the White House with US President Donald Trump and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. FIFA’s decision came six days later.
Portugal will play two friendlies in March, followed by one or two warm-up matches in May or June. The World Cup begins 11 June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With probationary suspension in place, Ronaldo is set to start the tournament from day one, a huge boost for Portugal.