Portuguese football federation to appeal Ronaldo's suspension in bid to secure his place in World Cup openers
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing an official appeal to FIFA in an effort to challenge the potential three-match ban handed to national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Details: According to Cabine Desportiva, the main objective is to ensure Ronaldo’s availability for Portugal’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup, should the team qualify directly. FPF president Pedro Prensa is personally involved in assembling the defense.
The federation’s case will rest on three key arguments. First, they will highlight the tense pre-match atmosphere, which was fueled by the Republic of Ireland’s head coach, who accused Ronaldo of trying to influence the referees during the teams’ previous meeting in Alvalade. This, the FPF claims, led to increased tension and a heated exchange following the sending-off in Dublin.
Second, the federation will stress the usual competitive context, pointing out that Ronaldo is frequently restricted in the penalty area, which can lead to frustration similar to what occurred during the incident in question.
Finally, they will emphasize Ronaldo’s lack of disciplinary history: this is his first red card in 226 international appearances for the national team. The federation hopes these arguments will help reduce the severity of the punishment.
Reminder: Ronaldo was shown a red card for elbowing an opponent during a World Cup qualifier against Ireland.
