FIFA - CRISTIANO RONALDO WORLD CUP BAIL OUT!

Cristiano Ronaldo has had his ban suspended by FIFA and Portugal star is now able to play in opening matches of 2026 World Cup
TNT Sports

It had appeared that Cristiano Ronaldo would miss Portugal's first two group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup in North America due to a three-match ban incurred after he was sent off against the Republic of Ireland earlier this month. However, the last two matches of that ban have been suspended, allowing him to take part in his country's opening games next summer.

The 40-year-old Portugal international striker was given a red card against the Republic of Ireland in their 2-0 defeat earlier this month.

Ronaldo was set off for elbowing Republic of Ireland player Dara O’Shea in the back in their qualifying game.

Despite the defeat, Portugal have qualified for the tournament next summer, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

A dismissal for violent conduct usually carries a three-match ban, and had that been enforced, Ronaldo would have missed the first two group-stage matches next summer with his team.

However, Ronaldo’s ban has seen the second and third matches suspended for a year.

The first match of the ban was served in the recent clash with Armenia, meaning he is free to play next June.

If the player commits a similar transgression, FIFA announced, then the two matches held in suspension would then need to be served, which would cost him the chance to play in the first two group stages with Portugal.
It has been reported that FIFA have made the decision in part because it is the Al Nassr forward’s first red card in 226 international appearances.

A FIFA statement confirmed: "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 scored five goals for his country in their qualifying campaign, as they finished top of Group F to progress to the summer tournament. He has scored 143 goals in total for his country.

Ronaldo has said this will be the last World Cup finals he will play in. It will be his sixth World Cup.

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We discussed this briefly during last week’s international fixtures, where it was felt FIFA would ‘find a way’ to overturn Cristian’s Ronaldo’s three-game ‘ban’ for a ‘violent conduct’ sending off, which meant that according to the rules, he would have to miss the first two ‘group’ games at next year’s World Cup in the USA

Absolutely stinks IMHO, and is a sad indictment of FIFA’s hierarchy, Infantino in particular, and the way football is being manipulated for the benefit of the few at the cost to the many!

We discussed this briefly during last week’s international fixtures, where it was felt FIFA would ‘find a way’ to overturn Cristian’s Ronaldo’s three-game ‘ban’ for a ‘violent conduct’ sending off, which meant that according to the rules, he would have to miss the first two ‘group’ games at next year’s World Cup in the USA

Absolutely stinks IMHO, and is a sad indictment of FIFA’s hierarchy, Infantino in particular, and the way football is being manipulated for the benefit of the few at the cost to the many!

Chris we did say infantino will sort out a way to let him. Play! Infantino is more carrupt than blanter and that's saying something.....

Stinks!

It's corruption. Plain and simple.

It's corruption. Plain and simple.

Agreed. If this was someone like Scott McTominay for Scotland, as a random example, not a chance that this would happen.