CRISTIANO RONALDO HAS hit out at his five-match ban, branding the sanction “exaggerated and ridiculous” and alleging that he is being persecuted.
The Real Madrid star was handed the suspension after being sent off and then shoving the referee in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Supercopa de Espana first-leg victory over Barcelona on Sunday.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) upheld the ban today, meaning Ronaldo will sit out tonight’s second leg of the Supercopa, followed by La Liga matches away to Deportivo La Coruna, at home to Valencia and Levante and away to Real Sociedad.
And Ronaldo has since taken to Instagram to voice his disapproval, writing: “Impossible to be unaffected by this situation, 5 games!! It seems exaggerated and ridiculous, this is called persecution! Thanks to my teammates for the support and the fans!!!”
The Portugal star played out a dramatic cameo at Camp Nou, coming off the bench to score a stunner before getting booked for removing his shirt in celebration.
He took a tumble in the box just two minutes later and earned a second yellow card for an apparent dive, but Ronaldo allowed his anger to get the better of him as he then pushed referee Ricardo de Burgos.
The 32-year-old could have been suspended for a maximum of 12 games, but the RFEF opted to impose a five-match ban. One game was attributed to his dismissal and four were as a consequence of his behaviour toward De Burgos. The RFEF has also fined Ronaldo €3,850 and his club a total of €1,750.
Fingers have never been more crossed for RG.
He’s had more than enough bad luck. Time for him to show what he can do. #SUAF
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: Agreed but starting his return on an artificial pitch mightn’t be the smartest move.
@TL55: 100%.
Be mad to test him out there.
Leave it till thomand or any other turf pitch.
That 4g is hard on knees.
@Paddy Waggon: agree… the last 20/25 mins in Limerick as a reintroduction…. A sixth spot for Munster in the URC prior to plays is exactly where they want to be…
Sixth secures HC for next year… but equally important if we finish fifth in the URC we will have to travel to play the team who finished second … guess who another trip to SA for to face the Stormers…. We already have 2 remaining fixtures in SA in the URC run of games and we have the game in the HC (Sharks) … so sixth is our best position …. I’d be more than happy with that and lifting a trophy with Synman. How bad
@Denis O Sullivan: oh by the way sixth in the URC would mean we would have to travel North to play Ulster as the table stands today. Better than going to SA to face Stormers or worse again if the Bulls finish third….
Good luck RG.
No one deserves the bad luck you’ve had.
If the Insta clips are to be believed Ahearn is training with the team, same for Okeke, is anyone signed up for the ‘extra content’ thing? looks to be cameras with them all the time now.