MADRID AND ZIDANE SWEAT ON RONALDO’S AVAILABILITY
▶ Striker will find out before second leg of Super Cup with Barcelona if five-game ban is upheld
Zinedine Zidane will hold off on deciding what his line-up will be for Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup second-leg tie with Barcelona tonight until after their appeal into Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-game ban is heard earlier in the day.
The Portuguese was handed the suspension on Monday by the Spanish federation (RFEF) after pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who had just sent him off during Madrid’s 3-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Ronaldo had scored Madrid’s second goal but was shown a first yellow card for removing his shirt during the celebrations and picked up a second caution for diving after going down in the Barca area under pressure from defender Samuel Umtiti.
Madrid have appealed and the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee will meet today, before the game at the Bernabeu, throwing up the possibility that if the ban is rescinded that Ronaldo could still feature in the action tonight.
Speaking yesterday, Zidane, the Real Madrid manager, said: “We have to wait until tomorrow. The committee meets and after that meeting we will see what we can do.
“I hope that when they meet, they look at it thoroughly.”
Zidane conceded he was frustrated by the incident and the fact that he is now faced starting the new domestic league season this weekend without him. “I’m upset that he’s been suspended for five games after what happened. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I’m telling you how I feel after watching the match again. How is it not going to bother me?
“I don’t interfere with the work of the referee, we can all make mistakes, but it’s annoying that he’s got five games after what happened.”
Zidane added that he hoped Ronaldo was not being judged unduly by the game’s authorities. He said: “Everyone can have their opinion but Cristiano Ronaldo is upset because he wants to play and when he doesn’t play he’s not happy; I hope they’ve not got something against Cristiano Ronaldo and people do their job with integrity.
“We’re upset that we are not going to have him with us for a long time. We’ll wait to see what happens tomorrow. The disciplinary committee is going to meet tomorrow and after that we’ll see what we’re going to do.”
The RFEF handed Ronaldo a five-game ban – one for the red card and another four for pushing the official before making his way off the pitch – leaving Madrid with 10 working days to appeal the sanction.
Ronaldo was found guilty of ‘Violation of article 96 of the Disciplinary Code’, which relates to using “mild force” against the officials, including grabbing, pushing or shaking.
Madrid defender Dani Carvajal echoed Zidane’s view that the punishment was harsh.
“It’s an excessive ban and a frustrating situation. I’m not in the referee’s head, but he didn’t have to be sent off,” said the Spaniard.
“We’re all upset with the punishment as Cristiano is an important player for us. We hope it’s reduced and he’s back in action soon.”
If the suspension is upheld Ronaldo will miss the second leg of the Super Cup as well as the opening four Primera Liga matches against Deportivo La Coruna, Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad.
Cristiano Ronaldo is upset because he wants to play and when he doesn’t play he’s not happy ZINEDINE ZIDANE