Cristiano Ronaldo red card: Reaction to Portugal star’s sending off as Roberto Martinez hits out at ‘harsh’ decision – ‘Moment of silliness'

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Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson explained the brief but intense confrontation between him and Cristiano Ronaldo, as the iconic forward was sent off during Ireland's 2-0 win over Portugal. Hallgrimsson called it "a moment of silliness" from the Portugal captain, who earned a red card in the 61st minute for elbowing Dara O'Shea at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ronaldo 'complimented me for pressurising the ref!’ - Hallgrimsson

Video credit: SNTV

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson called Cristiano Ronaldo's actions "a moment of silliness", during Ireland's 2-0 victory over Portugal at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday.

The Portugal captain was sent off with little over 30 minutes remaining after elbowing defender Dara O'Shea off the ball.

The hosts were already two goals ahead thanks to a first-half double from Troy Parrott when Ronaldo departed from the pitch, upon which he had a brief but heated exchange with Hallgrimsson that ended in a handshake.

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"He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee," said Hallgrimsson. "Listen, it had nothing to do with me. It was his action on the pitch that cost him a red card. Nothing to do with me, unless I got into his head."

"It was just a moment of silliness from him, I would say."

Ronaldo was initially given a yellow card for his action, but saw it upgraded to a red after the video assistant referee (VAR) advised referee Glenn Nyberg to review the incident.

It was Ronaldo's first red card in international football in 226 appearances, but remarkably, he was the third player to be shown a straight red at the Aviva in Ireland's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Roland Sallai of Hungary and Tigran Barseghyan of Armenia were the first two, and Hallgrimsson noted that perhaps the intense atmosphere in Dublin is getting to opponents.

"I don’t have any explanation for it, maybe it is the fans," Hallgrimsson offered. "They make an amazing atmosphere, it probably gets to the opponents.

"There are not many places with an atmosphere like here. Maybe it shocks them. Long may that continue."

The forward also directed a 'cry-baby' gesture at O’Shea before leaving the field.

Ireland's stunning win means they sit in third, one point behind Hungary in their group ahead of Sunday's crunch fixture in Budapest.

Automatic qualification is not impossible, but highly improbable, needing Armenia to beat Portugal, and for Ireland to win by four goals against Hungary.

Only a win in Budapest will send Ireland into second place and into the play-offs.

'Today was a bit harsh' - Martinez defends Ronaldo

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended his skipper, and took a swipe at Hallgrimsson for his pre-match remarks that he believes may have influenced Ronaldo's sending off.

"He's just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games, so I think that deserves credit," Martinez said.

"Today, I think it was a bit harsh, because he cares about the team. He had 60 minutes being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed.

"Obviously when he tries to get away from the defender, the action looks worse than it actually is. I don't think it’s the elbow, I think it's the full body. But from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow.

"We accept it because it is a red card. But it is for the right reasons; he cares, he was in the mood of the team and we were frustrated."

'He cares about the team' - Ronaldo red card 'was a bit harsh’, says Martinez

Video credit: SNTV

The Belgian, like Ronaldo, insinuated that the Icelandic manager put pressure on the referees with his comments in the press conference before the game.

"The only thing that leaves a taste in my mouth is that in the press conference, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced and then a big centre-half falls on the floor, dramatically, for Cristiano," said Martinez.

"We need to make sure we win the next game for him.

"You have to credit Ireland. We knew what Ireland were going to do, a team very well-organised who would try to defend in a low block and not take any risks. We had three new players, lost three important players, so I think our start of the game was very slow."

Ronaldo will definitely miss Portugal's final qualification game against Armenia with a minimum one-match suspension.

But he could face up to a three-match ban due to the dismissal for violent conduct, meaning he would miss Portugal’s first two World Cup group stage games, should they top their qualification group.

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