Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to a red card on Sunday earned him a three-league-match ban on Wednesday. David Ramos / Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to a red card on Sunday earned him a three-league-match ban on Wednesday. David Ramos / Getty Images

Ronaldo hit with three-match ban for red card reaction



Agence France-Presse

Recently crowned Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Real Madrid’s next three league games after being sent-off in his side’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The score was already tied at 1-1 when Ronaldo was shown the eighth red card of his career after clashing with Athletic midfielder Ander Iturraspe 15 minutes from time.

The Spanish Football Federation handed the Portuguese the normal one game ban for a straight red card, but also added an extra two games for a gesture of dissent Ronaldo made as he left the field.

Madrid still have the option to appeal the ban, but, should it be upheld, Ronaldo will be ruled out of the La Liga fixtures against Villarreal, Getafe and Elche.

However, the former Manchester United man will be free to take part in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg at home to Atletico Madrid as the suspension only applies to league fixtures.

Atletico currently lead La Liga by three points from both Madrid and Barcelona, who are locked on 54 points with 16 games still to go.

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He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal

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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

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Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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