'maybe I Got In Ronaldo's Head' Managers React To Portugal Star's Red

Before Portugal's World Cup qualifying conclusion by nan Republic of Ireland, Cristiano Ronaldo said he would "try to beryllium a bully boy" to support Irish fans disconnected his back.

In nan power of battle, however, Ronaldo ensured he joined Thierry Henry 1 of Irish football's awesome pantomime villains.

With Portugal trailing 2-0 aft Troy Parrott's first-half double, Ronaldo fought pinch Dara O'Shea successful nan Irish punishment area.

Jostling for position arsenic he awaited a cross, nan 40-year-old shunted his elbow into O'Shea's back, sparking a beardown guidance from nan Irish players and fans.

Referee Glenn Nyberg spotted nan incident and showed Ronaldo a yellowish card, but having been urged to reappraisal nan incident connected nan pitch-side show by nan video adjunct referee, nan Swedish charismatic came backmost pinch a red.

Ronaldo, who had endured a frustrating nighttime up to that point, thought amended of softly accepting his reward and proceeded to sarcastically applaud nan Irish fans and speech words pinch Republic of Ireland leader Heimir Hallgrimsson earlier exiting nan stage.

It was an eventful extremity to an intriguing spat betwixt Ronaldo and Hallgrimsson.

In his eve-of-match news conference, Ronaldo accused nan Republic of Ireland leader of mind games aft nan Icelander urged nan referee not to beryllium influenced by nan five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"He complimented maine for putting unit connected nan referee," said Hallgrimsson erstwhile asked astir their touchline exchange.

"It was his action connected nan transportation that costs him nan reddish card. It had thing to do pinch maine - unless I sewage into his head."

Asked if he said to Ronaldo aft nan game, Hallgrimsson added: "No, I deliberation we said capable erstwhile he came off.

"There was thing to speak about. This was conscionable a infinitesimal of a small silliness from him, I would say."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Portugal leader Roberto Martinez held a different sentiment of nan incident, and having defended his captain, took a swipe astatine Hallgrimsson for speaking astir nan referee being influenced.

"The reddish paper is conscionable a skipper that has ne'er been sent disconnected earlier successful 226 games - I deliberation that conscionable deserves in installments - and today, I thought it was a spot harsh because he cares astir nan team," said Martinez.

"He was 60 minutes aliases 58 minutes successful nan container being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and evidently erstwhile he tries to get distant from nan defender.

"I deliberation nan action looks worse than what it really is, I don't deliberation it's an elbow, I deliberation it's a afloat body, but from wherever nan camera is, it looks for illustration an elbow. But we judge it.

"The only point that leaves a bitter sensation successful my rima is astatine nan property convention yesterday, your coach was talking astir nan facet of nan referees being influenced, and past a large centre-half falls connected nan level truthful dramatically astatine nan move of Cristiano's body."

Ronaldo could perchance miss nan commencement of Portugal's World Cup run if they qualify.

While he is decidedly suspended for Sunday's last qualifier against Armenia, he could person a three-match prohibition for convulsive conduct.

In Fifa's disciplinary code, section two, Article 14(i) states: "Players and officials shall beryllium suspended for misconduct arsenic specified below... astatine slightest 3 matches aliases an due play of clip for assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting aliases hitting an force aliases a personification different than a lucifer official".

If Ronaldo is deed pinch a three-match prohibition and Portugal suffice automatically, he will miss their first 2 group games successful North America adjacent summer.

However, if Portugal driblet into nan play-offs, Ronaldo will service his suspension during those games.

His destiny will beryllium decided by a disciplinary committee, but whether aliases not his imaginable World Cup swansong is impacted, Ronaldo whitethorn not beryllium truthful charming nan adjacent clip he is successful Dublin.