‘Cristiano Ronaldo makes so many fans happy, and there were similar cases before – it’s good that he’s been allowed to play from the beginning of the World Cup’ Former Manchester United team-mate backs FIFA decision not to increase legend’s suspension

Cristiano Ronaldo seemed at real risk of missing the start of the World Cup after a red card in the Republic of Ireland recently – before being granted a reprieve.

Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing Dara O’Shea during Portugal’s penultimate qualifier, and was suspended for their next match against Armenia as a result.

FIFA then had the power to increase the suspension, which would have covered the start of the World Cup, but opted not to. Instead, a further two-match ban has been suspended for a year, and will only be activated if he commits another offence.

Ronaldo decision mirrors other cases

The fact that it was Ronaldo’s first red card in 225 international appearances was reported to have been taken into account, while there have been other cases in the past of players avoiding longer suspensions that would have affected their appearances in the World Cup.

Ahead of the 2014 tournament, Laurent Koscielny was suspended for the second leg of France’s World Cup play-off against Ukraine after slapping Oleksandr Kucher in the first leg, but the ban was not extended any further.

Mario Mandzukic was sent off for serious foul play in the second leg of Croatia’s play-off against Iceland, and was given just a one-match ban, meaning he featured in his country’s second game of the World Cup.

Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Mikael Silvestre believes that fans all around the world wanted to see the legendary forward play.

“It’s not just the Ronaldo case, there were other cases before, Mandzukic and Laurent Koscielny, so it’s not just one special treatment for Cristiano,” Silvestre told FourFourTwo, speaking in association with Poker Scout.

“But yes, everybody is pleased, because most likely it’s his last appearance at the World Cup for Portugal and it’s good for the fans to be able to see him.

“Everything he does of course is for himself to stay at the top, win trophies and break all the records, but he’s making so many fans happy as well. So it’s good that he can play.”