Icelandic Ireland national team manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has denied any connection to the red card received by star player Cristiano Ronaldo. Hallgrímsson believes that Ronaldo himself is entirely to blame for his sending off in the match where Portugal lost during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After being sent off in the 61st minute, Ronaldo exchanged words with the Irish manager. Prior to the match, Ronaldo had stated that Hallgrímsson had tried to pressure the referee by asking him not to be influenced by his star status. With his team trailing 0-2 in the second half, Ronaldo elbowed defender Dara O'Sea in the back inside the penalty area. The referee initially showed a yellow card but, after reviewing the VAR, reversed it to a red. At the press conference, Hallgrímsson said: "He praised me for pressuring the referee, but listen, I had nothing to do with it. The red card was the result of his actions on the field." He added: "I have nothing to do with it unless I interfere with his thoughts." Hallgrímsson continued: "I think this was just his attempt to make a joke." Ronaldo may miss the start of the World Cup if Portugal qualifies, depending on the length of his suspension.
