Cristiano Ronaldo receives his first red card for Portugal, sparking heated debate across world football
Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow for an elbow on Ireland defender Dara O’Shea, but VAR upgraded it to a straight red
Roberto Martinez slammed the decision, saying Ronaldo struggled defensively but didn’t deserve a sending-off
Heimir Hallgrimsson hinted that Portugal’s frustration may have influenced Ronaldo’s aggressive moment
Even with the defeat to Ireland, Portugal remain two points ahead of Hungary in the World Cup qualifying standings
His red card rules him out vs Armenia and if Portugal qualify directly, he may also miss their 2026 World Cup opener