Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for five matches for pushing the referee after he was shown a red card against Barcelona in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg victory on Sunday.
Upset by referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea’s decision to dismiss him, Ronaldo shoved the official, which landed him in further hot water.
Ronaldo will miss Wednesday’s return leg of the Super Cup in Madrid plus the first four matches of the Spanish league season.
Madrid opens the league on Sunday at Deportivo La Coruna. Its next three matches after that are against Valencia, promoted Levante, and at Real Sociedad.
Ronaldo and Madrid have 10 days to appeal the federation’s ruling.
Still regaining peak fitness after an extended summer vacation, Ronaldo began the Super Cup match on the bench, and came on in the 58th minute.
He scored with a long-range strike to put Madrid 2-1 up moments after Lionel Messi had equalised for Barcelona from the penalty spot.
But Ronaldo’s goal celebration – when he took his shirt off and flexed his muscles – earned him a yellow card.
Two minutes later, he charged into the area and collided with Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti. Ronaldo went down hoping for a penalty. Instead, referee De Burgos Bengoetxea showed Ronaldo a second yellow for diving and sent him off.
Ronaldo raised his arms in disbelief before he stepped up to De Burgos and shoved him in the back with his right hand.
The federation ruling said that Ronaldo’s shove violated article 96 of its disciplinary code, which states that “light aggressions” defined as “pulling, pushing and shaking” of a referee are punished by suspensions of 4-12 matches.
The Spanish Football Federation issued Ronaldo with a 3,005 euro ($A4,503) fine and a four match suspension in addition to the automatic one game ban the player was due to serve for his red card.
punter
Guest
Yeah, our communication is confusing, I like the beautiful game, ball played with skill, you like your football more athletic, like your AFL, you prefer hoofball of the EPL. Hit & run.
punter
Guest
Asensio is an outstanding player, I think potential to be great!!!! Isco also vey very good.
Mark
Guest
It will give Zidane a chance to get plenty of minutes into Isco and Asensio as well. Keeping both of them happy will be a challenge this year. I’m not sure Zidane could be ‘happy’ about the suspension, but there’s definitely a very bright silver lining in this cloud. As an aside, how much did you enjoy Pique’s own goal?
Mark
Guest
withdrawn - posted in error
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
We need to work on our communication. The Wet Dream would win Olympic gold in the 3 metre springboard with his diving efforts. I'd have given 5 weeks just for that.
punter
Guest
I agree Mark, this will give me a few more weeks to ready himself for the season ahead, I reckon Zidane would be happy about this.
punter
Guest
Yeah, don't really understand this 'AFL mode' especially when real football starts. I think 5 weeks is about right for the great man, but hopefully the ref gets the same time to learn his lesson about simulation.
sennr
Guest
That was not a dive, but a loss of balance. Should have been play on. Suarez dived 100% and should have been yellow carded. But that's Ronaldo. I can't hate him. He's too much of a hard worker to criticise him for showing off.
Mark
Guest
I agree it's about right. Real could probably appeal the initial red card, but there's not much point. The suspension will be a blessing in disguise. He's only been training for a week, so he will get a pre season's worth of training in before being thrown into more matches. He'll miss the second leg of the Super Cup, which is essentially already settled, and four very winnable Liga games. Despite what some sensational reports are claiming, it's hardly a massive blow for Madrid.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Umps, refs, who cares? — I'm in AFL mode at present; although a good start by my boys in the EPL against a bunch of handicaps. Nonetheless, your wet dream should have got 8 weeks.
punter
Guest
It's referees Rick, umpires do cricket not football. Big Ronaldo fan, no issues about suspension, you just don't touch referees. However, the referee was poor, that was NOT simulation, poor poor by the ref.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Should have got 8 weeks. Never been a fan of players touching the umpires, let alone pushing one. What's with the €3,005 fine? ... I'm sure he'll be distraught losing his lunch money for a day.
Midfielder
Guest
Wish he had got more ... he can be a p at times ...