Cristiano Ronaldo Facing 12 Games Ban for Pushing the Referee

Cristiano Ronaldo facing up to 12 games ban for pushing the referee after Madrid trashed Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo's push on referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea during Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Barcelona could earn him a suspension of up to 12 games.


Ronaldo shoved the referee in frustration after he was sent off for a second bookable offence, earned for simulation when he went down in the Barcelona penalty area under a challenge from Samuel Umtiti.

And the shove could see Ronaldo spending a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the Spanish rulebook stating that a player can receive a ban lasting anywhere between four to 12 matches for pushing a referee.


Article 96 of the rulebook applies to players who 'grab, push or shake' a referee in a 'slightly violent manner' and recommends a four to 12 game suspension for such offences.
De Burgos Bengoetxea noted the push in his official match report from first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, writing: 'Once the red card was shown, the player pushed me slightly in a sign of disagreement'.
Las Palmas striker Marko Livaja was handed a five-game ban by La Liga for a similar incident back in April, one match for the red card and an additional four for pushing the referee.
Livaja's punishment was typical of the precedent set by La Liga, in which non-serious, violent conduct towards a referee typically results in a four-game ban.

There remains a possibility that Ronaldo could have his second yellow card rescinded on appeal, in which case any additional suspension for shoving the referee would still stand but his one-game ban for his sending off would not.
Los Blancos skipper Sergio Ramos suggested the club would appeal Ronaldo's second booking and said his team-mate was not attempting to con the referee when he went to ground under Umtiti's challenge.

'I was far away, but I think it was a piece of play in which [Ronaldo] lost his balance, rather than feigning anything,' Ramos said. 'It could be appealed.

'Sending off a key player with 10 minutes remaining of a Clasico in which we've given our all is something which needs to be evaluated and thought about.'
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane also hinted Madrid will appeal, saying he hoped to have Ronaldo available for Wednesday's second leg at the Bernabeu.

'We played a great game, but what annoyed me was Cristiano Ronaldo's dismissal,' Zidane told reporters. 'Maybe there's no penalty, but to show a card [for simulation] was a little harsh.

'However, we cannot change that, even if we'll try to have him available for Wednesday.'
Should Ronaldo receive a total ban of five or more games it would apply to all Spanish competitions including La Liga. However, if Ronaldo's total ban lasts four or less matches it would only apply to Spanish Super Cup matches.
Ronaldo's first yellow card was considerably less contentious, as he was booked for taking off his shirt and displaying it to the Nou Camp crowd after scoring Madrid's second with a powerful strike past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
It was an imitation of Lionel Messi's infamous goal celebration in the previous Clasico back in April, in which the Argentine displayed his name and number to the Bernabeu after netting a late winner in a 3-2 win for Barcelona.
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