Former Chelsea midfielder, Craig Burley, has criticized FIFA following their decision to allow Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to play for his country’s national team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener.
Burley labelled FIFA’s decision as a mockery and a shame to suspend the ban and reduce Ronaldo’s red card to a one-game suspension.
Recall that Ronaldo was sent off in Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Ireland for elbowing Dara O’Shea off the ball.
The Al-Nassr forward was suspended for Portugal’s final qualifier win against Armenia.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Burley said, “If Gianni Infantino had any shame…because let’s be honest, he’d sell his soul for money, he’s shown that with the Club World Cup and the extended World Cup.
“They have made a mockery of their own disciplinary process, a complete shame. What this says to refs and other professionals is, ‘Maybe you should not send off the big stars, keep it to the guys under the radar because we want these big stars at a major tournament’.
“When have you ever seen any player get a probation after getting sent off for violent conduct. It is a 3 game ban and that is it, you can’t give someone a three-game ban and tell them you can have two games off.
“This has made a mockery of the organisation because they are making the rules up for themselves. If that had been any other player…… they would have three-game suspension, and they would have missed the World Cup or the first couple games of the World Cup.
“But for Cristiano Ronaldo, there is different rules and if FIFA try and tell you anything different, then they are talking absolute nonsense.”
