Real Madrid striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for three matches.
The Spanish football association (RFEF) decided to hand the Portuguese International a ban following his red card against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.
As a result, Ronaldo will miss three La Liga matches but will be available for tonight’s Copa del Rey game against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu,.
Ronaldo raised his hands while involved in a confrontation with Athletic’s Carlos Gurpegi and Ander Iturraspe late in the second half, as players from both sides bundled in after Madrid’s Karim Benzema had a penalty claim turned down.
The Ballon d’Or winner was perhaps unfortunate to be shown a straight red by referee Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez for pushing Gurpegi in the face, but of more concern could be the gesture Ronaldo made to an assistant referee as he was jeered from the field by a jubilant home crowd.
Madrid will be concerned, however, that the referee’s official report did include a gesture from Ronaldo which could be interpreted as suggesting the officials had deliberately singled him out.
Madrid would likely appeal the red card – with director Miguel Pardeza telling Canal Plus they would consider their options as they felt Ronaldo was the wronged party in the incident.
“It seemed simply unfair to me, if anyone deserved a red card it was the guy who started it off,” Pardeza said.
