Cristiano Ronaldo hit with five-match suspension for referee push

Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was issued a five-match suspension for pushing a referee in his team's Spanish Super Cup win at Barcelona on Sunday. 

Ronaldo, who entered the game as a substitute, first earned a yellow card for taking off his shirt and flexing his muscles to taunt Barcelona fans upon scoring a goal. 

After Ronaldo was dealt a second yellow card for diving to try to win a penalty, he shoved official Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea in the back out of frustration. The red card meant an automatic one-game suspension, but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) added another four matches to the ban as a result of the referee shove. Ronaldo was also fined close to $5,000 for his actions. He has 10 days to appeal the ruling. 

The RFEF disciplinary code states that a minimum of a four-match suspension will be dealt as a result of "slightly violent" behavior. The maximum would have been 12 matches. 

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said after the match Sunday that the club would consider appealing Ronaldo’s second booking to the Spanish football federation. That was before the additional four matches were added to the ban. 

“We played a great match. What bothers me is the sending off of Cristiano,” Zidane said. “Maybe it wasn’t a penalty, but the card is a bit too much.”

Cristiano Ronaldo sent off as Real Madrid beats Barcelona

Contributing: The Associated Press.