Cristiano Ronaldo Sanctioned by FIFA: Football's Governing Body Takes Disciplinary Action

FIFA handed Cristiano Ronaldo a three-match ban after his red card against Ireland in Dublin, but the Portuguese captain will only serve one game if he stays out of trouble for the next year. The suspended sentence means Ronaldo can play Portugal's opening World Cup matches in 2026.

The 40-year-old striker missed Portugal's final group stage match against Armenia after getting sent off in Dublin. His team won that game 9-1 without him and secured their spot in the tournament finals.

FIFA's disciplinary committee imposed the full three-game suspension but made two of those matches conditional. Under Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code, the remaining two games will be suspended for one year. If Ronaldo commits another similar offense during that period, he'll immediately serve those two additional matches.

This decision gives Ronaldo breathing room for next year's World Cup. Portugal will likely need their all-time leading scorer for the tournament, where he'll be 41 years old. The veteran forward has scored 135 goals in 217 international appearances and shows no signs of slowing down.

The suspended sentence approach reflects FIFA's recognition of major tournaments and star players. A full three-match ban would have sidelined Ronaldo for crucial World Cup qualifiers or potentially the tournament itself. Instead, he gets a second chance as long as he keeps his discipline in check.

Portugal's qualifying campaign continues without major disruption. They've already proven they can win big games without Ronaldo, but having him available for the World Cup remains important for both the team and tournament organizers who know his global drawing power.