Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Republic of Ireland national football team in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Dublin — the first sending-off of his international career in 226 appearances.
In the post-match comments, Portugal manager Roberto Martínez described the decision as “a bit harsh,” stressing that Ronaldo had been subject to persistent physical pressure during the match.
“He was almost 60 minutes in the box being grabbed, pulled, pushed and obviously he tries to get away from the defender. I think the action looks worse than what it actually is,” Martínez said.
What Happened
- Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge described as an elbow on Irish defender Dara O’Shea, but after a VAR review the yellow was upgraded to a straight red.
- Martínez argued that although Ronaldo’s action appeared serious on camera, in context he felt it was less clear-cut: “I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow.”
- The incident also stirred further controversy: Portugal’s boss took issue with comments made by Ireland’s manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, who had implied Ronaldo exerts undue influence on referees. Martínez said these remarks left a “bitter taste” given the circumstances.
Implications
- The red card complicates Portugal’s qualification path for the World Cup, as they now face the prospect of missing their talismanic captain for at least one ensuing match.
- For Ronaldo personally, this marks a significant blemish in an otherwise highly disciplined international career — and it arrives at a fragile phase for Portugal’s campaign.
- For Martínez and the coaching staff, the incident emphasises the need to navigate high-stakes qualifiers without their long-time leader in action — and also manage the potential morale impact on the squad.
Verdict
While the red card stands and rules will determine any suspension, Roberto Martínez’s public defence of Ronaldo frames the incident as one of context and interpretation rather than clear abuse of conduct. It also underscores the mounting pressure on the Portugal camp to recover quickly from this setback.
