Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson reveals Cristiano Ronaldo conversation after Portugal star sees red | OneFootball

Legend lost his head after Dublin dismissal

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off as Portugal were stunned 2-0 by Ireland in World Cup qualifying.

The veteran striker was shown a red card at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with his side already two goals down.

Troy Parrott, the former Tottenham forward, had struck a double to put the hosts ahead as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side took a huge step towards a play-off place in Group F. They are now one point off Hungary in second, and three adrift of Portugal who top the table.

Ronaldo had the red card brandished in his direction by referee Glenn Nyberg, who had been urged by Hallgrimsson not to let the Portugal captain influence his decision-making.

The Al-Nassr forward looked unimpressed as Nyberg gave him his marching orders, and he sarcastically applauded the Irish crowd, giving them a thumbs up before making his way towards the home bench to pick a fight with backroom staff and substitutes alike.

The former Manchester United man was led away by Portugal coach Ricardo Carvalho and ushered down the tunnel, as the home support continued to jeer the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Halgrimsson told RTE Sport afterwards that he thought Ronaldo had “lost his focus a little bit”.

“Maybe the fans that helped as well,” he continued. “Maybe he was frustrated and reacted in a way that he knows that he shouldn’t.

Ronaldo had accused the Ireland boss of playing mind games in the lead-up to the match, and the Icelandic coach revealed that the spat continued in the wake of the sending off.

“He said that to me walking way. He told me it was a clever thing to do. He blamed the referee or whomever for this, but it was his silly decision to attack our player.”

Ronaldo had revealed earlier this week that next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States would be his final major tournament before he retires.

Meanwhile, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended his skipper.

“The red card is from a captain who has never been sent off in 226 games, I think it was a bit harsh,” Martinez said in his post-match press conference.

“He cares about the team, it’s 58 minutes of being grabbed and pushed in the box, I think the action looks worse than it is, I think it is [a turn of] Ronaldo’s full body, rather than an elbow.

“It was a red card for the right reasons, as he cares, he was frustrated.

“What is disappointing is your coach was talking in the press conference about the aspect of the referee being influenced, then a big centre-back falls on the floor, dramatically.”