Overview
- FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings and notified the Portuguese federation after Cristiano Ronaldo’s straight red card against Ireland in Dublin, his first sending-off for the national team.
- The FPF is drafting a formal submission seeking to cap any punishment at a single match.
- The planned defense cites pre-match pressure from Ireland’s coach, argues the contact lacked violent intent, and points to Ronaldo’s clean record with Portugal.
- Record reports that Pedro Proença is directly involved in shaping the federation’s response.
- A suspension longer than one game could carry over beyond Sunday’s qualifier against Armenia and threaten Ronaldo’s availability for Portugal’s first 2026 World Cup fixture if the team qualifies.