Ronaldo’s red card overshadows Portugal’s defeat in Dublin
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson provided a measured account of a turbulent evening in Dublin following Cristiano Ronaldo’s dismissal, which overshadowed Portugal’s 2–0 defeat in World Cup qualifying, revealing the confrontational remark made by the forward as he exited the pitch, reports BritPanorama.
Ronaldo’s red card came in the 60th minute after he collided with Dara O’Shea, resulting in him driving an elbow into the defender’s back, as captured on video replay. O’Shea fell to the ground, prompting the referee to dismiss Ronaldo—a decision that left the veteran striker trudging off with half an hour still remaining.
At the time of the sending off, Portugal was already two goals down, extinguishing their hopes for a comeback. The evening became significantly louder with Ronaldo’s exit than with anything else Portugal had produced.
Ronaldo displayed visible irritation, gesturing with a thumbs-up towards jeering Ireland fans before approaching Hallgrimsson and members of the Irish technical staff in a confrontational manner, before heading down the tunnel.
Now facing a two-match suspension, one match could take place during the 2026 World Cup if Portugal secures qualification. Despite the setback, they remain two points clear of Hungary in Group F and three ahead of Ireland.
Hallgrimsson, when asked about the exchange with Ronaldo, recalled the forward’s comment regarding the pressure exerted on the referee. “Yeah, he complimented me with putting pressure on the referee,” he stated. However, Hallgrimsson clarified that the incident stemmed solely from Ronaldo’s actions on the pitch, asserting, “It was his action on the pitch that cost him a red card. It had nothing to do with me.”
He further described the brief interaction as a “moment of silliness” from the forward, indicating that there was nothing more to discuss following the incident. The Icelandic coach’s earlier comments about Ronaldo’s influence during their last meeting in Portugal had set a backdrop for the tension in Dublin, where he had noted that Ronaldo seemed to control not just the referee but the atmosphere of the match.
“All the fans supported his actions. The referee just kind of played along,” Hallgrimsson remarked, hinting at his hope that the balance of influence might shift in their favour at Aviva Stadium.
With Portugal guaranteed at least a playoff spot, they are set to face Armenia, while Hungary hosts Ireland on the final matchday.
In an unpredictable twist reminiscent of a gripping season finale, this latest episode in the sporting saga reminds us of how moments of individual brilliance can turn into chaos, especially when tempers flare on the grand stage of international football.
