FIFA may face legal action after its controversial decision to suspend Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban, allowing him to play in Portugal’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA took the extraordinary step of suspending the final two matches of the three-match ban imposed on the 40-year-old star after he was sent off for elbowing Ireland’s Dara O’Shea in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.
Ronaldo, who was a guest of President Donald Trump at the White House last week, missed Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier – a resounding 9-1 victory over Armenia – and is now effectively free to play for his country.
According to the Daily Mail, the teams drawn in Portugal’s World Cup group are likely to take legal action to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to overturn the controversial suspension and reinstate the original ban.
Any affected party must prove that it is directly impacted by the decision and has a legitimate interest that warrants protection. Thus, teams will have to demonstrate that their chances of qualifying from the group will be diminished if Ronaldo, who scored five goals in the qualifying campaign for the United States, is allowed to play against them.
It’s worth noting that FIFA based its decision on Article 72, which allows FIFA officials to suspend disciplinary proceedings in whole or in part. This will complicate the legal process should any team appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
