August 17 – After losing his appeal against a five-match ban for pushing a referee during Sunday night’s Spanish Super Cup 3-1 first-leg victory over Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo, used his Instagram account to claim “This is what you call persecution.”
Real Madrid reportedly claimed at appeal that the push on the referee, which followed the player being awarded a second yellow card for diving (TV replays show it wasn’t a dive), was an “uncontrollable reflex.” The Spanish football federation tribunal was unconvinced by the excuse and the five-match ban remains in place.
Ronaldo has been found guilty of a violation of article 96 of the disciplinary code relating to the use of “mild force” against the officials, including grabbing, pushing or shaking. He has also been fined £3,459, with Real fined £1,590.
Ronaldo, who earnt £191 million in 2015 and who is facing prosecution in Spain for tax evasion, expressed his outrage at the sentence, writing: “Impossible to be unaffected by this situation, 5 games!! It seems exaggerated and ridiculous, this is called persecution! Thanks to my teammates for the support and the fans!!!”
Ronaldo was forced to sit out yesterday’s Super Cup second leg, due to the ban, but that didn’t stop him donning his Real Madrid kit and taking to the pitch to take part in the trophy celebrations.
Ronaldo will now be absent for the upcoming La Liga games against Deportivo La Coruña, Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad.
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