Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward claims 'persecution' after failed appeal
Last updated on .From the section European Football
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo said the decision to suspend him for five games is "persecution".
The 32-year-old failed in his appeal against the ban for the red card he received in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Barcelona in the Super Cup.
He was given a one-match ban for two yellows and a further four for pushing the referee after he had been sent off.
The bookings at the Nou Camp were for taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal to make it 2-1 and for a dive.
Ronaldo will miss Wednesday's second leg and will not return to domestic action until 20 September against Real Betis. However, he will be able to play in the Champions League.
In an Instagram post, after his failed appeal, he wrote: "It seems to me exaggerated and ridiculous, this is called persecution."
Madrid had signalled their intent to appeal against Ronaldo's second yellow card shown for diving eight minutes from time when he went down inside the area under pressure from defender Samuel Umtiti.
The forward was only on the field for 24 minutes as he was introduced as a second-half substitute and fired into the top corner 10 minutes from time to give Madrid a 2-1 lead.
It was Ronaldo's 10th red card of his career and the two yellow cards on Sunday came within two minutes.
"Once shown the red card, said player [Ronaldo] pushed me lightly as a sign of his disapproval," the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea wrote in his post-match report.
The games Ronaldo will miss... |
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Barcelona (h) - Spanish Super Cup - 16 August |
Deportivo La Coruna (a) - La Liga - 20 August |
Valencia (h) - La Liga - 27 August |
Levante (h) - La Liga - 9 September |
Real Sociedad (a) La Liga - 17 September |
Analysis
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher
The message they've got to send out is it's unacceptable to push a match official.
If I'm walking down the high street in my town I can't go pushing a policeman.
There is nothing to excuse what Ronaldo did.
We cannot accept this at any cost.
Comments
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Also doesn't matter how hard you push the ref, if you push him you're in trouble so deal with it
Behaving in that manner (vanity too) is not what is expected of an athlete of his caliber.
If you are a professional, then act like one.
Remember the referees are only human and can't see everything that goes on. The Spanish FA could have rescinded the second yellow but not after the push.
About time he was knocked down a peg or two.
A better athlete than Messi yes, but never has been and never will be a better footballer. I guess the jury's still out on who is the better tax evader. . .
Hope they stand firm, ban that arrogant man, and back the referee. Bet they don't though...
They really need to get a grip and realise what normal life actually is.
Ronaldo pushed the ref, yes it was slight but the intent was there. Lucky he didn't get more and that it hasn't been expanded to include European competition.
What a prat.
Real should fine Ronaldo but they won't
Doesn't matter if it was a gentle or a heavy push - you don't lay hands on match officials. How about breaking the habit and setting an example