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Cristiano Ronaldo received the first red card of his international career on Thursday as he was sent off for elbowing an Ireland play during Portugal's loss in Dublin.
Ronaldo's swung his elbow into the back of Ireland defender defender Dara O'Shea, and was given his marching orders after a VAR check. He will serve a minimum one-game suspension, which will see him miss Portugal's final qualifier against Armenia next week, and the ban could be lengthened if FIFA deems it appropriate to increase it.
Straight red cards carry an automatic one-game suspension, but FIFA's disciplinary code states that a red card for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent" should carry a three-match suspension.
Portugal is not yet assured of its place at next summer's tournament, but a victory over Armenia next week would secure qualification.
If Roberto Martinez's side gets the win that it needs to qualify, and Ronaldo is handed a three-game ban, that would see him miss Portugal's opening two games of the World Cup.
FIFA judges these matters on a case-by-case basis, though, so there is no guarantee that Ronaldo's ban will be extended – it could stay as a one-game ban, while it could also be increased to two games.
In the unlikely event that Portugal does not qualify automatically and has to go through a play-off, Ronaldo would serve any extended ban during that play-off.
On the night, Troy Parrott scored both of Ireland's goals to keep the Republic's hopes of making it to North America alive.
Former Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher is the Irish No.1, and it was another good performance for him against Portugal, after he also saved a penalty from Ronaldo during the two nations' meeting in Lisbon last month.
Kelleher pulled off a brilliant save from Goncalo Ramos in the final few minutes of the game to preserve Ireland's two-goal advantage and ensure there would be no nervy finish for his side.
The Irish Independent praised Kelleher for his "long and accurate balls forward," while The Irish Times said it was a "weirdly comfortable night" for the Brentford stopper.
Ireland goes to Hungary next week knowing that another win is required to keep its hopes of qualification for the World Cup alive.
Victory would see Heimir Hallgrimsson's side secure a play-off spot at the very least, while a draw or a defeat would see Hungary finish above Ireland in Group F.
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