Online Reporter
CRISTIANO RONALDO is in danger of missing at least Portugal’s opening match at next year’s World Cup football finals after being shown a red card in Thursday night’s 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card after elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during the match in Dublin.
However, it was upgraded to a red card and Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career after the contact was reviewed by the referee on a pitch-side video monitor.
“When he tries to get away from the defender, I think the action looks worse than what it actually is,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. “I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body.
“But from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. We accept it. It could be a red card but for the right reasons.”
Ronaldo will serve his mandatory one-game suspension when Portugal plays host to Armenia today.
Portugal, which still lead Hungary by two points in Group F, can clinch a spot in next year’s World Cup with a victory.
However, FIFA disciplinary rules state that a ban of at least two matches is required for “serious foul play” and for at least three matches for “violent conduct” or for “an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing”.
Pre-World Cup exhibitions would not count towards serving a potential match ban, and it could be three weeks before FIFA issues a verdict.
It is the first red card Ronaldo has received in the record 226 games he has played for Portugal.
“He is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games,” Martinez said. “I think it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.”
Ronaldo is seeking to reach his sixth World Cup.
Messi scores as Argentina beat Angola
Another football icon Lionel Messi created the first goal and scored the second as world champions Argentina beat Angola 2-0 in an international friendly match in Luanda on Friday night.
Miami-based Messi set up Lautaro Martinez to put the Albiceleste ahead on 44 minutes.
The roles were reversed after 82 minutes with Martinez the creator and Messi the scorer.
Martinez beat 39-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Marques at his near post and Messi struck with a shot into the far corner of the net. Both scorers were substituted late in the second-half.
It was a predictable outcome as Argentina are second in the world rankings, behind Spain and 87 places above Angola.
The match at the national stadium in the Angolan capital celebrated the 50th anniversary of independence for the Southern Africa nation and former Portuguese colony.
Title-holders do not automatically qualify for the next World Cup, so 2022 champions Argentina had to play the other nine South American countries home and away to secure a place at the 2026 tournament.
They won 12 matches, drew two and lost four to top the final standings with 38 points, nine more than second-placed Ecuador.
Angola were shock qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, pipping Nigeria on head-to-head records after winning at home and drawing away against the group favourites.
But the Black Antelopes have been unable to make it to the global showpiece in five subsequent attempts.
They won just two of 10 qualifiers for the 2026 tournament to finish 11 points behind group winners Cape Verde. — AFP Sport
