November 26 – Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has been cleared to play for his country in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier this month, Ronaldo, 40 and an Al Nassr player, was dismissed for an elbow to Dara O’Shea’s back during Portugal’s 2-0 qualifying defeat against Ireland. Violent conduct carries a three-match ban, but the Portuguese star has had the second and third matches suspended for a year.
Chaired by Mohammed Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates, FIFA’s disciplinary committee commuted his sanction to a one-game ban, with two further matches suspended under a year’s probation. Ronaldo had never been sent off in an international match before the Ireland fixture.
Ronaldo sat out Portugal’s final qualifier against Armenia, which Roberto Martinez’s side won in thumping fashion, 9-1.
A FIFA statement 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.”
Ronaldo will participate in his sixth World Cup. He recently attended a dinner at the White House as a guest of US President Donald Trump.
Trump said: “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo”.
“And Barron (Trump) got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”
Elon Musk and Fifa President Gianni Infantino were also in attendance at the black-tie dinner that formed a part of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s visit to the United States.
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