Cristiano Ronaldo is free to play in Portugal’s World Cup opener next summer after being banned for just one match, despite his red card for a violent elbow in their defeat by Ireland.
Ronaldo, 40, was dismissed for elbowing Dara O’Shea on the hour mark of his side’s shock 2-0 defeat in Dublin earlier this month.
The Portugal star had been facing a potential three-match ban for violent conduct, which would have ruled him out of the start of the World Cup.
But FIFA have suspended the second and third matches of the ban
More to follow
