Ronaldo Suspended for 3 Games; Referee Earns One Month Suspension

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid forward, has been suspended for three Spanish League games for receiving a red card and then making a mocking gesture toward the match officials during a game at Athletic Bilbao. He was given a straight red for swiping his hand across the face of Bilbao’s Carlos Gurpegi following a shove from his opponent during Sunday’s 1-1 league tie. The league’s disciplinary committee granted Ronaldo a one-game ban for the red card and two more for his mocking gesture as he left the field. Ronaldo will miss games against Villarreal, Getafe, and Elche. However, he was available to play in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid that started on Wednesday. In a related incident, the referee that sent off Ronaldo has also been suspended for one month. Ángel Ayza Gámez, the referee, has been banned from officiating in further Real Madrid matches for the rest of the season and is also likely to be relegated from the list of Liga match officials.