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Cristiano Ronaldo brutally mocked by Ireland fans after red card in Portugal’s shock 2-0 defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo ended up being brutally mocked by Ireland fans after his red card in Portugal’s shock 2-0 defeat on Thursday night.

The 40 year old was shown his first red card in international football with Troy Parrott’s first-half brace preventing Portugal them World Cup qualification.

Ronaldo’s yellow card for elbowing Dara O’Shea was upgraded to red via VAR review in his 226th appearance for Portugal.

The loss means Portugal must wait to secure their finals spot, while a win for Ireland over Hungary would seal them a play-off place.

The red card means that Ronaldo could miss the start of Portugal’s World Cup campaign should they qualify, suspended for Sunday’s final qualifier against Armenia, but could receive a three-match ban for violent conduct.

In Fifa’s disciplinary code, chapter two, Article 14(i) states: “Players and officials shall be suspended for misconduct as specified below… at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent or a person other than a match official”.

A three-game ban means that Ronaldo, should Portugal qualify automatically, will miss their first two group games next summer.

But, if Portugal drop into the play-offs, Ronaldo will serve his suspension during those games, and he will find out his fate by a disciplinary committee.

In his pre-match news conference, Ronaldo said it was “lovely” to be back and that he would “try to be a good boy” to stop Ireland fans from booing him, only to then get sent off in the game and was mocked by the Irish.

Ronaldo also accused the Republic of Ireland boss of mind games after Hallgrimsson urged the referee not to be influenced by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Hallgrimsson said that, in Portugal’s win over the Republic of Ireland in October, Ronaldo – who had a penalty saved in that game – was “controlling the referee”.

“He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee,” said Hallgrimsson when questioned about their touchline exchange, ending with a handshake.

“It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head.”

Asked if he spoke to Ronaldo after the game, Hallgrimsson added: “No, I think we spoke enough when he came off.

“There was nothing to speak about. This was just a moment of a little silliness from him, I would say.”

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez meanwhile defended Ronaldo and instead, took aim at Hallgrimsson for speaking about the referee in the build-up.

“The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team,” said Martinez.

“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender.

“I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.

“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.”

Republic of Ireland goalscorer Troy Parrott speaking on RTE:

“This is probably the best night I have had in my entire life, I have no words to describe it.

“We all know how important this game was for us, particularly after the other result tonight. I am overwhelmed.

“I don’t know what words to use, but I am over the moon.”

On his first goal: “That is a part of my game that I have really developed over the last few years, being in the right areas to score goals.

“It was something we had worked on.”

On his second goal: “I saw the space open up between his legs [Neves’] and it is always hard for the goalkeeper to get there when it is across his body.”

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson speaking on RTE:

“I am just proud of the performance from the guys.

“It was hard work, discipline, focus and, most of all, good teamwork.

“We kept them [Portugal] at bay. Defensively we were really solid.

“Big improvements from [in] Portugal, we should have scored more than two goals to be honest.

“I think it was the perfect example of how you play a team with this amount of individual quality that Portugal have.”

On Ronaldo’s red card: “He [Cristiano Ronaldo] lost his focus a little bit and maybe it was the fans as well.

“He was frustrated and reacted in a way he knows he shouldn’t.”

On what Ronaldo said to Hallgrimsson after his red card: “He said that to me walking away [about Hallgrimsson’s comments about the referee before the game], told me it was a clever thing to do and blamed the referee or whomever for this, but it was just his silly decision to attack our player.”

Twitter users reacted when seeing Cristiano Ronaldo brutally mocked by Ireland fans after red card in Portugal’s shock 2-0 defeat…

@FraserWallace92: 40 years old. Man child petulant lashes out, gets sent off and tries to scrap the opposition manager. Unquestionably, a terrible human being, especially paying a woman off to avoid rape charges

@_ethanthfc_: Isn’t this guy supposed to be a 40 year old captain? I would be embarrassed if a 16 year old did this. Let alone an old man who is supposed to be the captain of one of the best football nations in the world 😭

@_jackk02_: Mr I am Cristiano Ronaldo the best to ever play the game got rattled by Irish fans hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣

@Derrylad39: Poor fella getting it tight tonight 😭😭

@kennethwall71: Hahahahahahahahahaha who’s crying now ya cnut

@Niall__Brennan: Hang it in the Louvre

@philipflanagan: 2 up and Ronaldo off. To the Irish fan that used one of his 3 wishes on tonights game. We salute you 🫡 #COYBIG

@DanBurnFC: Never been big on the Irish team but a Ronaldo headloss is always fun

@melrobe08536915: Seamus Coleman is everything a leader should be. Ronaldo is all about Ronaldo. That’s a proper Irish performance, full of everything that I grew up watching in the 90s and a bit more tonight. Absolutely superb, go again Sunday 🇮🇪

@Jamie686_: Nah the Irish crows reaction to Ronaldo’s red card has buckled me 🤣. Petulant child.

@jf2e:
A tale of two No. 7s tonight.
Troy Parrott scores 2 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo gets a red card.
Seamus Coleman is still the spiritual leader of the Irish team.
2 nil to the Republic of Ireland.
#IRLPOR #COYBIG #Ronaldo
#CR7

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