A source within the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) told the Portuguese news agency Lusa that the federation is preparing to file an official appeal to FIFA to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from being suspended for more than one match following his red card against the Republic of Ireland.
According to the agency, FPF president Pedro Proença is personally overseeing the matter to ensure that Ronaldo avoids a lengthy ban and remains available for the national team’s opening matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Portuguese appeal is built on three key arguments:
- The hostile atmosphere surrounding the match due to pre-game comments by Ireland’s coach.
- The circumstances of the incident itself that led to Ronaldo’s dismissal.
- Ronaldo’s exemplary disciplinary record, having never received a red card in his long international career prior to this incident.
The report adds that the federation is confident these points will convince FIFA that Ronaldo does not deserve a suspension exceeding one match.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on Friday evening, while the national team prepares to host Armenia on Sunday in the sixth and final round of Group F qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
If the Al-Nassr star is suspended for more than one game and Portugal secures direct qualification, he could miss the team’s World Cup 2026 opener, scheduled from 11 June to 19 July.
Ronaldo received the first red card of his international career last Thursday in Dublin, after 226 appearances for Portugal, when Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg issued a direct dismissal for an off-the-ball incident involving Irish defender Dara O’Shea.
Portugal went on to lose the match 2–0, both goals scored by Troy Parrott, jeopardizing their chance to qualify for the World Cup for the ninth time in history and the seventh consecutive edition.
