A turbulent night in Dublin

Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited return to Dublin was meant to be a warm revisiting of a city where he had once enjoyed fond memories. Instead, it became one of the most controversial nights of his international career. In a World Cup qualifier loaded with tension and emotional flashpoints, the Portugal captain’s dismissal now places his participation at the start of next summer’s tournament in real jeopardy.

Before the match, Ronaldo had playfully promised to “try to be a good boy” in order to keep Republic of Ireland supporters off his back. Yet once the temperature of the contest rose, he soon found himself slipping into the role of pantomime villain, joining names like Thierry Henry in the catalogue of figures who have provoked Irish frustration over the years.

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The flashpoint that changed everything

With Portugal trailing 2-0 after a superb first-half brace from Troy Parrott, frustration was building throughout the visiting side. Ronaldo, who had endured an unusually quiet evening, jostled for position inside the Irish penalty area on the hour mark. As he awaited a cross, he appeared to swing his elbow into the back of Dara O’Shea, sending the Ipswich Town defender to the turf.

Referee Glenn Nyberg initially reached for a yellow card. Irish players immediately protested, while the Aviva Stadium crowd erupted. Moments later, VAR intervened, advising the official to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. After watching the replay, Nyberg returned to the pitch and produced a red card.

Ronaldo reacted with anger and sarcasm. He applauded the home fans mockingly, exchanged heated words with Heimir Hallgrimsson, the Ireland manager, and departed in a swirl of noise and hostility. A match that had already begun with tension ended with one of the most dramatic dismissals of the entire qualifying campaign.

Hallgrimsson and Ronaldo: an unexpected war of words

The flashpoint capped an increasingly sharp verbal battle between Ronaldo and Hallgrimsson, one that had begun even before kick-off. The Icelandic coach had warned the referee not to be influenced by Ronaldo’s stature, suggesting that during Portugal’s earlier victory in October the veteran forward had “controlled the referee”.

Ronaldo took exception to this, accusing Hallgrimsson of mind games. Yet after the final whistle, the Ireland manager maintained a calm, almost amused demeanour when reflecting on the incident.

“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,” Hallgrimsson said.

Pressed further, he added: “No, we did not speak after the game. We spoke enough when he came off. It was just a moment of a little silliness from him.”

Their tense touchline exchange may have ended with a handshake, but the undercurrent of psychological sparring lingered throughout the evening.

Portugal close ranks around their captain

As expected, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended his captain strongly. Martinez highlighted Ronaldo’s extraordinary disciplinary record, arguing that the red card was inconsistent with his career-long behaviour.

“The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games. That deserves credit,” Martinez said. “I thought it was harsh because he cares about the team. He had been grabbed, pulled and pushed for nearly an hour.”

According to Martinez, the motion that sent O’Shea to the grass looked worse than it was. He suggested that the replay angle distorted the reality of Ronaldo’s movement.

He also criticised the tone set by Hallgrimsson before the match, saying that the Ireland manager’s remarks about referee influence left a “bitter taste”.

By hinting that O’Shea went down too theatrically, Martinez added to the tension that engulfed the match’s aftermath.

What happens next: the risk of a World Cup suspension

Attention now shifts to FIFA’s disciplinary committee, who will determine the length of Ronaldo’s suspension. He is already ruled out of Portugal’s final qualifier against Armenia, but the more serious concern lies with the potential for a three-match ban.

FIFA’s disciplinary code states that elbowing an opponent falls under actions deemed to be assault, carrying “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time”.

The consequences are clear:

• If Portugal qualify automatically, Ronaldo would miss their opening two group matches at the World Cup in North America
• If Portugal drop into the play-offs, he would serve the suspension during those games instead

With the tournament possibly being the last of his legendary international career, the stakes could not be higher.

A sour and memorable return to Dublin

Sixteen years ago, Ronaldo played his first-ever match for Real Madrid in Dublin, a moment he once spoke of fondly. When he said before the match that it was “lovely” to return, few could have predicted how the night would unravel.

His red card, his stand-off with Hallgrimsson, and his sarcastic farewell to the Irish crowd combined to create one of the most memorable and dramatic nights of the entire qualifying campaign. Whether it ultimately affects his final World Cup campaign remains to be seen, but Dublin will forever hold a new and unforgettable chapter in Ronaldo’s story.

The Republic of Ireland may not be heading to next summer’s finals, but they have certainly played a defining role in shaping the next steps of one of football’s greatest icons.