Ronaldo faces lengthy ban for pushing referee after red card

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a 12-game ban following an eventful night in Barcelona that ended with the 32-year-old pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being sent off.

The Real Madrid star came off the bench in the first leg of Spain's Super Cup, scored a spectacular goal and was twice booked in the 3-1 at the Camp Nou.

With the score at 1-1 after 80 minutes, Ronaldo gave the visitors the lead with a sensational long-range strike and then mimicked Lionel Messi's goal celebration at the Bernabeu last season, removing his shirt and holding it up to the fans.

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That earned him a first booking. Minutes later he was shown a second yellow for diving in the box.

"The bewildered-looking 32-year-old then shoved the official in scenes reminiscent of Paolo Di Canio's famous push on referee Paul Alcock in 1998, although unlike Alcock, de Burgos Bengoetxea was not knocked to the turf," says The Times. "Ronaldo must now wait to learn whether he will face a lengthy ban, as Di Canio did."

The referee noted the incident in his match report. Ronaldo is likely to face additional punishment.

"The shove could see Ronaldo spending a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the Spanish rulebook stating that a player can receive a ban lasting anywhere between four to 12 matches for pushing a referee," says the Daily Mail.

"Las Palmas striker Marko Livaja was handed a five-game ban by La Liga for a similar incident back in April, one match for the red card and an additional four for pushing the referee.

"Livaja's punishment was typical of the precedent set by La Liga, in which non-serious, violent conduct towards a referee typically results in a four-game ban."

Ronaldo's cameo came in a game that ended 3-1 to the visitors, who took the lead thanks to an own goal from Gerard Pique.

Lionel Messi equalised from the penalty spot, only for Ronaldo to strike back three minutes later. Despite being reduced to ten men, Real added a third through Marco Asensio in the final minute.