Portugal may be without Cristiano Ronaldo for their first World Cup match after the star striker was shown a red card in the 2-0 defeat to Ireland on Thursday.
Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card after elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea during the match in Dublin.
However, it was upgraded to a red card and Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career after the referee viewed the contact on an on-pitch video monitor.
“If he tries to get away from the defender, I think the action looks worse than it actually is,” said Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez. “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. We accept it.
It could be a red card, but for the right reasons.”
Ronaldo will serve his mandatory one-match ban when Portugal host Armenia on Sunday. Portugal, which still leads Hungary by two points in Group F, can clinch a place at next year’s World Cup with a win.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary rules state that a ban of at least two matches is required for ‘serious foul play’ and at least three matches for ‘violent conduct’, or for ‘an appropriate period for assault, including elbowing’.
Exhibitions before the World Cup do not count towards serving a possible match ban, and it could take three weeks for FIFA to make a ruling.
It is the first red card that Ronaldo has received in the record 226 games he has played for Portugal.
“He’s just a captain who has never been sent off before in 226 games,” Martinez said. “I think it was a little harsh because he cares about the team.”
Ronaldo is aiming for his sixth World Cup.
