Ronaldo says ban excessive, hopeful about appeal

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo thinks his two-match suspension for Sunday’s red card against Malaga is excessive and is confident the La Liga club’s appeal will succeed.

Ronaldo scored both goals in the 2-0 win at the Bernabeu but was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute after catching Patrick Mtiliga with a flailing arm, breaking the defender’s nose.

The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday the Portugal forward had been suspended and fined 600 euros ($845).

RFEF added that if Real’s attempts to get the ban reversed are unsuccessful he will miss Saturday’s trip to Deportivo Coruna and the home game against Espanyol the following weekend.

"I wasn’t impressed (about the suspension), of course," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by As newspaper on Wednesday.

"I sincerely believe the punishment is excessive," he added. "I am confident in the appeal the club is going to lodge and that the punishment will be reduced."

The RFEF’s disciplinary committee decided Ronaldo’s actions were not wilful or reckless, which would have meant a longer suspension, but that he had been guilty of dangerous play.

It was his second dismissal of the season following his sending-off against Almeria in December for kicking out at an opponent after he had earlier been booked for taking off his shirt in a goal celebration.

Real presented evidence to the disciplinary committee which included video footage of an incident earlier this month involving Barcelona forward Lionel Messi trying to shake off a Sevilla opponent who was holding him back.

Messi was awarded a freekick and Real claimed the incident supported their case for Ronaldo’s card to be reversed.

The committee ruled, however, that as the referee had not mentioned the Messi incident in his match report it was not relevant and, in any case, no injury had been caused.