Ronaldo gets five-match ban for pushing referee

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday imposed a five-match ban on Real Madrid star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who had lightly pushed the referee after being shown a red card during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona.

RFEF banned Ronaldo for one match due to him being dismissed following two yellow cards -- one for taking off his jersey while celebrating a goal and the other for simulating a penalty -- and another four matches for pushing the match's referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea, reports Efe.

Ronaldo, who entered the field in the 58th minute to replace French striker Karim Benzema, was first booked for taking off his jersey as he was celebrating a spectacular goal in the 79th minute.

Three minutes later, he got his second yellow card after the referee decided his fall inside the penalty box after vying for the ball with Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti had been faked.

De Burgos said in his report after the match about the incident that Ronaldo had pushed him lightly following his dismissal.

The sole judge on the RFEF's Competition Committee, after reviewing Real Madrid's defence statements, first of all made clear that the referee was the only sportive authority during the match and his decisions were irrevocable.

The judge also considered that the player violated article 96 of the disciplinary code, which forbids pushing the referee and imposes bans ranging between 4-12 matches for that action.

The judge dismissed the argument that the shove had been an instinctive response from Ronaldo, as Real Madrid claimed, and instead called it an "unjustified and disproportionate reaction."

The Portuguese player, 32, was also fined 3,005 euros ($3,538) for the action against the referee and 800 euros ($942.84) for the dismissal, while Real Madrid was fined 1,400 ($1649.97) and 350 euros ($412.49), respectively.

The RFEF said the decision was subject to appeal before the Appeals Committee within 10 business days.

Sunday's match, which was held at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium, ended with a 3-1 win for Real Madrid. The two teams are set to face off in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Wednesday.

--IANS

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