"Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo can play in the first game of the 2026 World Cup after FIFA's Disciplinary Committee issued him a one-match ban -- which he has already served -- for the red card he received in his country's 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Nov. 13. FIFA published a disciplinary verdict Tuesday that imposed a three-game ban, yet with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period."
"He later served the mandatory one-game ban when Portugal played their final qualifying game last week -- a 9-1 win over Armenia that sealed their place at the World Cup in North America. Ronaldo was shown his marching orders for violent conduct in the 61st minute after elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea away from the ball. After an initial yellow card, the referee was urged to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee and upgraded the decision to a red card."
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee imposed a three-game ban on Cristiano Ronaldo, with two matches deferred for a one-year probation, and one mandatory match already served. The red card occurred in a 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Nov. 13 after an elbowing incident that was upgraded from yellow to red following a VAR pitchside review. Ronaldo served the one-game suspension during Portugal's 9-1 win over Armenia that secured World Cup qualification. Ronaldo had never previously received a straight red in 226 international appearances and has 13 club-level sendings-off. He has played three years in the Saudi Pro League.
Read at ESPN.com
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