• La Liga

Ronaldo handed two-match ban for Cordoba red card

ESPN staff
January 28, 2015
Cristiano Ronaldo kicked and raised his hands in the face of several Cordoba players in an ill-tempered contest © Getty Images
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Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for two matches after he was sent off in Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Cordoba on Saturday.

Despite initial fears that he would be suspended for the derby against Atletico Madrid, Ronaldo was given the minimum possible sanction and will only miss games against Real Sociedad and Sevilla.

Ronaldo was sent off for kicking Cordoba's Edimar in the latter stages, but could have also faced further punishment for lashing out with his fists earlier in the game.

There were suggestions that Ronaldo could have faced a much lengthier ban of potentially 12 games, but referee Alejandro Hernandez did not mention that the forward raised his hands into the face of Cordoba defender Jose Angel Crespo on two separate occasions.

"In minute 83 the player Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the following reason: kicking his rival off the ball," read the referee's report.

Ronaldo later apologised on Twitter for what was his ninth career red card, saying: ""I apologise to everyone and especially to Edimar for my thoughtless act in today's game."

Madrid went on to win the game 2-1 courtesy of a late Gareth Bale penalty, but may rue the loss of their talisman as they prepare to face David Moyes' Real Sociedad and fifth-placed Sevilla in the coming week.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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