Did FIFA make an exception?

FIFA has allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Portugal’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup in a controversial decision that ensures one of the sport’s biggest stars does not miss out on a record sixth World Cup start. The decision, announced Tuesday, sparked a fierce debate over the governing body’s enforcement of disciplinary rules, with critics quick to refer to “special treatment”.

Ronaldo, who recently turned 40, was facing a customary three-match suspension for the straight red card he received in Portugal’s qualifier against the Republic of Ireland earlier this month. The offense, an elbow aimed at defender Dara O’Shea, is generally classed as violent conduct and warrants a long-term ban.

However, the FIFA disciplinary committee gave a partially suspended penalty. The Portuguese captain served a mandatory one-match suspension in Portugal’s qualifying win against Armenia, while the remaining two matches were suspended as part of a one-year trial period.

In the statement made by FIFA, it was stated that “In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the broadcast of the remaining two matches has been postponed” and emphasized that if Ronaldo commits another similar violation during the trial year, the entire ban will be implemented immediately.

Questionable Precedent

While Article 27 allows for the suspension of sanctions, football observers and journalists described the decision as “unprecedented”. The board’s choice to postpone two-thirds of a three-match violent conduct ban is in stark contrast to similar cases seen this month, where players from Armenia and Burundi received full three-match suspensions for similar aggression in qualifiers. None of them were given any commutation or probation.

The decision allows Ronaldo to avoid starting the latest World Cup campaign on the bench, a huge boost for Portugal and a commercial boon for the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Sources suggest that two important factors weighed in the decision: the strong objection of the Portuguese Football Federation and the fact that the red card was the first in Ronaldo’s 226-game international career.

Despite these factors, critics argue that the rulebook should be applied equally to everyone, regardless of profile. As one well-known football writer commented, “Fifa acknowledges the seriousness of the offense but still penalizes it lightly. A good day for marketing. A bad day for discipline.” The decision, celebrated by millions of fans, has raised questions about whether many will actually benefit from the creative application of the law at the opening of the World Cup.

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