Cristiano Ronaldo facing World Cup ban after red card for elbowing Ireland star

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off during Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland on Thursday night as his team missed a chance to clinch qualification for the World Cup

Portugal and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo is at risk of missing the start of the World Cup through suspension after his red card against Ireland on Thursday. The veteran was sent off after elbowing Dara O’Shea, with his dismissal confirmed after a VAR check.

Ronaldo’s team-mates were unable to mount a comeback with a man’s disadvantage at the Aviva Stadium. Troy Parrott’s first-half brace put Ireland in control and there were no further goals after the red card just before the hour mark.

Portugal are still in pole position to qualify from Group F but now things are a little more complicated. Victory at home to Armenia will do the trick, but dropped points could open the door for one of Hungary and Ireland – who meet in Sunday’s other game.

Ronaldo’s fate will hinge on the length of his ban as well as Portugal’s route to qualification. Were he to receive a ban of more than one game, it could carry through to the group stage of the World Cup proper.

As an example, if Portugal qualify automatically and Ronaldo gets a two-game ban, he would miss the Armenia qualifier and the World Cup opener. If he gets a two-game ban and Portugal slip up against Armenia, he would miss the first leg of a play-off.

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“He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee,” Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson said when asked by reporters what Ronaldo said to him after the red card. “But listen, it had nothing to do with me, it was his action on the pitch that cost him a red card. It had nothing to do with me, unless I got into his head.”

The Icelandic manager also felt his team could have won by an even bigger margin. “We should have scored more than two. I cannot stop praising the supporters we have, amazing and they have a lot to say in this win, they gave us energy at crucial times and I give them credit,” he said.

Ireland could end up ruing dropped points earlier in the qualifying campaign, not least a 2-1 defeat in Armenia back in September. Even so, a victory away to Hungary on Sunday would guarantee a play-off spot and could even see Ireland top the group if Portugal suffer a shock defeat in their own final game.

Hallgrimsson’s side came back from 2-0 down to rescue a draw in their reverse game against Hungary, with Adam Idah scoring a last-gasp equaliser. Marco Rossi’s Magyars scraped a 1-0 win away to Armenia on Thursday to keep alive their own slim hopes of topping the group, with Barnabas Varga’s first-half goal the difference between the sides.

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