The International Federation of Association Football sparked widespread controversy after it proceeded to suspend the enforcement of the penalty imposed on Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, which entailed a three-match ban following his red card in the match against Ireland.

FIFA’s decision to allow Ronaldo to participate in Portugal’s first two matches of the 2026 World Cup ignited anger among some national teams who view the move as granting Portugal an unfair advantage.

The Daily Mail Sport revealed that several potential opponents of the Portuguese national team are seriously considering appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the suspension decision and demand the reinstatement of the original ban.

Informed sources stated that any team wishing to pursue legal escalation must first prove that it is directly harmed by Ronaldo’s participation and that it has a clear legal interest deserving protection before the relevant authorities.

The opposing teams will have to demonstrate that the participation of Portugal’s captain could affect their chances of qualifying during the group stage, especially since the player scored five goals during the qualification campaign for the United States.

They must also provide evidence that FIFA’s decision is incorrect; however, this task appears difficult given that disciplinary procedures enjoy a significant degree of discretionary authority within the international organization.