Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in Portugal’s opening match at the World Cup after Fifa reduced his suspension for a red card against the Republic of Ireland.
The 40-year-old forward had initially received a three-match ban for violent conduct, but Fifa’s disciplinary committee on Tuesday cut it to a single match, suspending the remaining two under a one-year probation. Having missed Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Armenia, Ronaldo has effectively served the suspension.
Ronaldo was dismissed during Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Ireland on 13 November for striking defender Dara O’Shea with an elbow. While he has received 13 red cards in his career, this was his first in a senior international match, a record spanning 226 appearances.
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A Fifa statement clarified the terms:
“In line with article 27 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, the serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probation period. If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension…shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team. This is without prejudice to any additional sanctions imposed for the new infringement.”
The reduction of the ban is subject to appeal by Fifa’s appeal committee, but Ronaldo will be available for Portugal’s World Cup campaign opener.