Cristiano Ronaldo Will Get 2-Game Ban, Claims Spanish Publication

Spanish newspaper AS claims Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will receive a lighter ban than many expected from La Liga chiefs after his recent sending off for kicking an opponent against Cordoba.

Juan Jimenez reports the 29-year-old will only be suspended for two matches, making him available for Real Madrid's vital clash against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.

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If true, the decision is sure to cause reverberations around Spanish football, with questions about favouritism sure to be asked if Ronaldo makes the starting lineup for the Madrid derby.

A red card for violent conduct usually carries a minimum of a three-match ban—but it appears the referee did not see Ronaldo's slap as it was not included in the official's report, per Pete Jenson of the Mail Online.

Jenson explains Ronaldo's kick does not constitute violent conduct in Spain, as it would do in the English Premier League.

A two-match ban is therefore the likely outcome, only being bumped up to three games if the ref had noted the slap. 

CR7 was involved in a couple of unsavoury incidents during the game at Cordoba which saw the mercurial player lash-out at his opponent. The sending off was captured on social media by the Metro, showing the very deliberate nature of Ronaldo's actions and backing up the referee's immediate call:

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The game was tied at 1-1 when the red card offence occurred as Los Blancos pushed for the winner to give them the three points.

The deciding goal did eventually come late in the day from the expensive boot of Gareth Bale but not before Ronaldo saw the red mist.

However, the alpha-male Galactico did apologise for his actions immediately after the game, with AS translating the player's words, asking for Edimar Fraga's forgiveness:

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Football writer and Spanish league expert Graham Hunter believes the hysteria surrounding Ronaldo has reached epic proportions, proclaiming recently on Sky Sports that sympathy should be felt for the attacker—with the pressures so great on his shoulders:

"

In Spain there's hysteria about his actions, hysteria about the way he goes off, particularly in the media but also from the fans. 

The thing is we can't have it every way. We sit here every week saying he's incredible, the standards, how often he produces, we've never seen anything like it.

And when it goes a little bit off kilter there's bound to be frustration.

"

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Once again this season, Ronaldo has been in outstanding form and has been Madrid's most lethal marksman. His 28 goals in just 18 La Liga matches is an outrageous statistic, per WhoScored.com, and the Galacticos would have missed his undoubted influence against Atletico.

But if the La Liga commission decides to ban the player for only two games, it will make a mockery of their disciplinary system. Players must not be judged on star status and, despite his apologies, his actions should warrant a minimum of three matches.

The Madrid derby has taken on much more significance in recent seasons with the rise of Atleti's status as genuine league contenders.

A win for Real could potentially end the champions' charge but, without Ronaldo, Diego Simeone's men had an increased chance to dispatch their bitter rivals.

The decision on Ronaldo's ban should be announced later on Wednesday, per Jimenez, and if he is treated with preference it will be hugely damaging to the image of Spanish football. Retrospective action should be considered for striking an opponent, but it seems CR7 may get lucky on this occasion.