FIFA Justifies Reduced Ronaldo Ban: "First Red Card in 226 International Matches" Saves Star from World Cup Absence
Star player Cristiano Ronaldo is eligible to participate in Portugal's first two World Cup matches, despite receiving a direct red card against Ireland for "violent conduct." This type of offense typically warrants a suspension of at least three matches according to FIFA regulations.
Why wasn't Ronaldo suspended for three matches? Although "violent assault" (elbowing) is classified among offenses that mandate a three-match suspension, FIFA decided to ban Ronaldo for only one match (which he already served against Armenia in the final round of World Cup qualifiers) and "suspend" the enforcement of the second and third match bans for a full year.
According to media reports, FIFA took Ronaldo's historical disciplinary record into account. This red card was the first of his international career after 226 matches with the Portuguese national team, an exceptional record that led the Disciplinary Committee to opt for a "conditional punishment" instead of applying the maximum penalty.
A FIFA statement read: "If Cristiano Ronaldo commits a similar offense in nature and severity during the probation period (for one year), the penalty will be immediately activated, and he will be forced to serve the remaining two matches in the Portuguese national team's first official games."
This means that any further violent conduct within the year will reactivate the full ban, without prejudice to any additional measures that may be taken.
An exceptional decision outside the usual context: Although the decision is based on Article 27 of FIFA's Disciplinary Code, which allows for the suspension of sanctions "wholly or partially," it remains outside the usual precedents, which often apply a full suspension in cases of violent conduct.
As a result, the 40-year-old Ronaldo will be present for Portugal's first two World Cup matches, temporarily ending the immediate controversy but simultaneously opening a debate about FIFA's flexibility in dealing with high-profile stars.
