Cristiano Ronaldo Hit With 5 Match Ban For Pushing Referee
Cristiano Ronaldo was handed a 5 match ban for pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after he awarded him a red card for diving in the first leg of the Super Coppa against Barcelona at Camp Nou. The Real Madrid ace saw red after receiving a second yellow for diving in the penalty area, soon after receiving his first yellow for his celebrations to his goal. An enraged Ronaldo, who was clearly upset with the referee’s decision, ended up pushing the referee, which was deemed violating Article 96 by the Spanish Federation.
Left out of the starting line-up for the match, Ronaldo scored with a beautiful strike to make it 2-1 in the 80th minute .He ended up smashing home a lighting quick counter that see Madrid take the lead in the match. He earned a yellow card for taking off his shirt to flex his muscles as he raced away to celebrate his goal. The Real Madrid star was booked again just two minutes later for diving in the area by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea. Soon after receiving red, he
ended up pushing Ricardo in the back before he made his exit from the match. Ronaldo was punished under article 96 of the Code of the Spanish Football Federation, which states that any player who “catches, shoots or shakes” a referee in a manner perceived to be violent risks a suspension anywhere between four and 12 matches. He will now miss Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid and four La Liga matches and was also fined £2,700.
Madrid will not miss Ronaldo too much for the second leg as they hold a comfortable 3-1 lead over Barcelona. It will though be tough to see how they fare without their main man as they begin their league title defence soon.
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