Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off around the hour mark for elbowing Dara O'Shea at Dublin's Aviva Stadium with Ireland leading 2-0.
- The referee's initial yellow card was upgraded to a red after a VAR review, and Portugal went on to lose 2-0 to a Troy Parrott brace.
- FIFA disciplinary guidelines cited in coverage indicate at least a two-match suspension for serious violent play, with longer bans possible for violent conduct such as an elbow.
- Ronaldo will be suspended for Sunday's home finale against Armenia, a match Portugal must win to secure direct qualification.
- He left the pitch to boos with sarcastic applause, drew sharp criticism from Portuguese media, and the dismissal was reported as his first in 226 caps for the national team.