Bruno Fernandes Says Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Knows He Made a Mistake’ After Ireland Red Card
Lisbon, November 15, 2025 — In the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic first red card for Portugal, teammate Bruno Fernandes has defended the veteran forward, expressing empathy while acknowledging the seriousness of the incident.
Ronaldo was shown a straight red card during Portugal’s 2–0 loss to the Republic of Ireland in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Dublin. The decision came after a VAR review upgraded an initial yellow card for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea. It marked the 40-year-old’s first-ever sending off in his 226 international appearances.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Portugal’s next qualifying fixture, Fernandes said: “He knows it wasn’t something he wanted to do … He knows he made a mistake.” According to the Manchester United midfielder, Ronaldo’s reaction was emotional but not malicious, and he deeply regrets how it affected the team.
Fernandes added that while red cards are “something normal in football,” losing Ronaldo in that game made things significantly harder for the squad: “We were only playing with ten men, and we didn’t have a player capable of scoring at any moment.”
Behind the Red Card: Context and Controversy
The incident has sparked widespread reaction in Portugal. The national team’s manager, Roberto Martínez, came to Ronaldo’s defense, calling the red card decision “a bit harsh” and arguing that the full-body contact looked worse under the lens of television replays. Martínez pointed out that Ronaldo had spent much of the game under physical pressure, being held and pushed by defenders.
At the same time, Ireland’s boss, Heimir Hallgrimsson, described the moment as “a little silliness” on Ronaldo’s part. After the red card, the two exchanged brief words on the touchline, with Hallgrimsson revealing that Ronaldo thanked him for “putting pressure on the referee.” Hallgrimsson, however, maintained that the sending-off came purely from Ronaldo’s action on the field.
Fallout and Future Implications
Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s next match due to the red card suspension. Beyond that, the footballing world is closely watching whether FIFA will impose a longer ban, given the nature of the incident being categorized as violent conduct.
Fernandes, meanwhile, is pushing a message of unity. He emphasized that mistakes — even significant ones — happen, and the team must reflect and move forward together. “What we have to do is win the match … we analyse mistakes the same way — in wins or losses,” he said.
National Reaction
Criticism has come amid Portugal’s media. Some press outlets have urged Ronaldo to apologize more clearly, arguing that his reaction — from the elbow itself to his behavior as he left the pitch — showed a lack of accountability.
But Fernandes’s calm in the storm may help steady the ship. By acknowledging Ronaldo’s remorse and framing the incident as a lapse rather than a career-defining blow, he has offered a more compassionate, measured perspective than some of the harsher calls from both inside and outside the squad.
For Portugal, the next few days will be critical. With Ronaldo suspended, they must prove they can adapt and maintain their qualification momentum — all while navigating the media scrutiny and internal tension sparked by one of their most iconic players.
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