Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has taken a swipe at FIFA for allowing Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to feature in the country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite his recent red card.
Nigerian Newssphere reports that FIFA had reduced Ronaldo’s violent-conduct suspension to a one-match ban, clearing him to play at the tournament.
The 39-year-old was sent off in Portugal’s 2–0 loss to Ireland after elbowing Dara O’Shea off the ball and subsequently missed the final qualifier against Armenia.
Reacting on ESPN FC, Burley slammed the decision, calling it “a mockery” and accusing FIFA of bending its disciplinary rules to favour superstar players.
“If Gianni Infantino had any shame… let’s be honest, he’d sell his soul for money. He’s shown that with the Club World Cup and the expanded World Cup,” Burley said.
“They’ve made a complete mockery of their own disciplinary process. This tells referees, ‘Don’t send off the big stars, keep it for the lesser-known players because we want the big names at major tournaments.”
Burley stressed that violent conduct typically carries a mandatory three-match ban, adding that FIFA’s leniency would not be extended to any other player.
“This organisation is making up rules as they go along. Any other player would’ve served a full three-game suspension and missed the World Cup. But for Cristiano Ronaldo, there are different rules — and if FIFA says otherwise, it’s nonsense,” he said.
