Cristiano Ronaldo sent home after red card against Ireland
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly left Portugal’s training camp after a turbulent night in Dublin ended with the first straight red card of his international career, reports BritPanorama.
The forward was dismissed for elbowing Dara O’Shea during Portugal’s 2–0 defeat to Ireland on Thursday, a result that jeopardises their bid to qualify automatically for next summer’s World Cup.
The sending off occurred shortly after the hour mark when Ronaldo swung his arm after failing to meet a cross. O’Shea went to the ground, and while the referee initially showed a yellow card, VAR later upgraded the decision to red.
It marked the first dismissal in Ronaldo’s 226 appearances for Portugal, met with disbelief from the 40-year-old, who sarcastically applauded the crowd before heading down the tunnel. He also exchanged heated words with the Irish bench before being escorted away.
Under FIFA rules, straight red cards carry suspensions for tournament matches, putting Ronaldo’s participation in Portugal’s opening fixture at what is expected to be his final World Cup in jeopardy.
Despite the incident, Portuguese manager Roberto Martínez defended his captain, arguing that the action was misinterpreted. He stated, “There’s no violence. He tries to push the defender away and he was unlucky with the VAR angle. It’s Ronaldo’s first red card for the national team; it’s incredible.”
Portugal must secure qualification by defeating Armenia on Sunday to avoid reliance on the playoffs. Reports indicate that Ronaldo has been “released” from the squad and is set to return to Saudi Arabia, reuniting with Al-Nassr ahead of their match against Al Khaleej on November 23.
The match itself was dominated by Ireland, with Troy Parrott scoring both goals. Parrott described the win as “the best night of his entire life,” adding, “We all know how important this game was for us. I am overwhelmed.” Ireland remains a point behind Hungary, setting up a decisive meeting between the nations on Sunday.
As the drama unfolded on Thursday night, the footballing world was reminded of the thin line between brilliance and controversy — and how quickly even the sport’s greats can stumble. In a fierce competition where every moment counts, one lapse can alter fortunes significantly.
