DUBLIN -Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said Cristiano Ronaldo's red card against Ireland was harsh after the forward was sent off for the first time in an international match in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Dublin on Thursday.

Ronaldo initially received a yellow card for lashing out with an elbow to the back of Ireland defender Dara O'Shea but the sanction was upgraded to red after a review.

It was his first sending off in 226 appearances for the national side.

"I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team," Martinez told reporters. "He was almost 60 minutes in the box being grabbed, pulled, pushed and obviously he tries to get away from the defender.

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