The Spanish Football Federation’s Appeals Committee have upheld Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match suspension, but Real Madrid will still appeal.
The Portugal international was shown a straight red card against Athletic Bilbao last weekend after striking out at Carlos Gurpegi, but was then given an extra suspension for an alleged gesture towards the fourth official.
Despite an initial appeal, the Committee have upheld the ban, but Los Blancos have decided not to take it to the Spanish Sports Disciplinary Committee [CEDD], so as to ensure the Portugal international’s presence in the Liga BBVA derby against Atlético Madrid on 2 March.
However, the club are to lodge an appeal with the authority, the highest judicial body in Spanish sport. The forward is therefore definitely unavailable for Madrid’s league clash with Villarreal this evening.
Requesting an interim order to place the punishment on hold – pending further judgement – would have represented a risk, with Real Madrid aware that the CEDD could grant the order, thereby freeing up Ronaldo to appear against Villarreal, only to uphold the suspension a week later after closer investigation of the matter. This would have caused his suspension to cover the matches against Getafe, Elche and Atlético.
To avert this eventuality, the Santiago Bernabeu will next week submit their appeal against the punishment set by the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committees.
