Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has defended captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the 40-year-old was shown a red card in their 2–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Thursday night. Ronaldo was dismissed in the first half after appearing to elbow Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during a tussle in the penalty area. Referee Glenn Nyberg initially issued a yellow card but upgraded it to a straight red following a VAR review, leaving Portugal a man down for the remainder of the game. The dismissal rules the Al-Nassr forward out of Portugal’s final World Cup qualifying match against Armenia on Sunday. Speaking after the match, Martinez attempted to play down the severity of Ronaldo’s actions, insisting the Portuguese captain was reacting to persistent contact from the Irish defence. “It’s difficult for a player like Cristiano to be in the penalty area,” Martinez told reporters. “He had constant contact with the defenders, who were grabbing him. There was no violence — he tried to push them away. “He was unlucky. I think the angle of the images makes it worse than it actually happened. It’s his first red card for the national team, it’s incredible.” The defeat leaves Portugal needing a strong finish in their remaining qualifier as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
Martinez Defends Ronaldo After Red Card in Portugal’s 2–0 Loss to Ireland
