Cristiano Ronaldo WILL play in World Cup opener: FIFA let Portugal star off with unique ruling despite violent conduct red card against Ireland – one week after meeting US President Donald Trump
Cristiano Ronaldo is free to play in Portugal’s World Cup opener next summer after being banned for just one match following a special ruling by FIFA.
Ronaldo, 40, was dismissed for elbowing Dara O’Shea on the hour mark of his side’s shock 2-0 defeat in Dublin earlier this month.
The Portugal star had been facing a potential three-match ban for violent conduct, which would have ruled him out of the start of the World Cup.
But FIFA have suspended the second and third matches of the ban in a rare ruling, taking into account the red card was his first dismissal in 226 appearances for his country.
Ronaldo has served his punishment after he sat out the 9-1 win over Armenia, meaning he will not be suspended for any of Portugal’s matches at the tournament in North America.
A FIFA statement 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.’
Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a World Cup reprieve after being sent off against Ireland
The decision is a huge boost to Ronaldo and comes just a week after he met US President Donald Trump at the White House.
