Despite having received a red card in Portugal’s recent 2-0 loss against the Republic of Ireland, Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the 2026 World Cup after all. According to the latest ruling, FIFA has suspended the three-match ban imposed on the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, prompting many to question the legitimacy of the decision made by the football governing body.
Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the World Cup opener for Portugal
According to a report published by BBC Sports, FIFA has decided to postpone the final two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension by one year, allowing him to take part in the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
The Portuguese superstar received a sending off in his nation’s World Cup qualifying defeat against the Republic of Ireland, after he elbowed Dara O’Shea to the ground. As such, FIFA levied a three-match ban on the 40-year-old forward with regard to its disciplinary code for violent conduct.
In accordance, the former Real Madrid star had to sit out Portugal’s 9-1 drubbing of Armenia in their final qualifying match-up. However, Ronaldo won’t have to miss out on the next two matches on the international stage, with FIFA suspending his red card ban by one year.
An official statement released by FIFA regarding the matter read, “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked, and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”
As such, Ronaldo will be able to participate in his country’s first two World Cup 2026 matches, come next year. Despite reservations about FIFA’s decision, the organization is legally permitted to postpone or nullify any ban. According to a clause in the disciplinary code, FIFA can shorten, delay, or invalidate any suspension as it sees fit.
Article 27 of the rulebook conveys that FIFA can “fully or partially suspend” a ban for “a probationary period of one to four years.” Meanwhile, Article 25 notes that “the relevant FIFA judicial body may scale down the disciplinary measure to be imposed or even dispense with it entirely.”
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory.
