In a turbulent evening for Portuguese football, Manchester City stars Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva found themselves at odds with their own supporters following a surprising defeat to the Republic of Ireland. The match, held in Dublin, ended in a disappointing 2-0 loss for Portugal, further marred by Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card after an altercation with Dara O’Shea.

This unexpected setback has left Portugal’s qualification for next summer’s World Cup hanging in the balance. They still have the opportunity to secure their spot with a win against Armenia in their upcoming match on Sunday. However, the frustration among the players was palpable, particularly as tension simmered between the team and their fans.

Ruben Dias, serving as Portugal’s captain for the evening, initially applauded the crowd, perhaps as a gesture of solidarity. However, his demeanor quickly shifted to anger, seemingly provoked by the fans’ reaction to the team’s performance. Bernardo Silva, another key figure in the squad, also appeared visibly upset as the night unfolded unfavorably for Roberto Martinez’s men.

CONTENT WARNING: Obscene gesture

Dias, who was captaining Portugal, originally began to clap the fans but then became furious by what he saw. 

CONTENT WARNING: Obscene gesture 

Ruben Dias (above) and Bernardo Silva clashed with Portugal fans after their defeat by Ireland

Silva also became furious and his team-mate Joao Felix attempted to restrain him 

He gestured to his eyes before pointing towards supporters with his fingers, as if suggesting he had identified those who were protesting against Martinez’s side.

He then moved back towards the rest of his team-mates as Joao Felix attempted to bring him back into the group.

But something then infuriated Silva, who pushed away peacemaker Felix and marched over towards supporters while throwing his hands in the air. 

Silva went within metres of the stands and made his feelings known, before the rest of Portugal’s squad walked over and attempted to take the 31-year-old away from trouble. 

It summed up a difficult night for Portugal. Despite being Nations League champions, Martinez’s side have crashed out in the quarter-finals at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. 

Ronaldo’s red card was the major talking point of the game though, and reports in his homeland have claimed he has already left the national team and headed home to Saudi Arabia.

Given his red card, the Al-Nassr star is suspended anyway for Sunday’s game, but as captain there was a chance he may have stuck around. 

But, Portuguese outlet A Bola reported on Friday morning that Ronaldo has been released from the national team. 

The major talking point of the game was Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card for swinging an elbow

On his way off the pitch on Thursday after his dismissal, the Portuguese superstar confronted Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson and allegedly accused him of mind games.

Speaking ahead of the game, Hallgrimsson had suggested Ronaldo was ‘controlling the referee’ in the reverse fixture last month, and after full-time he revealed what the 40-year-old had said to him. 

‘He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee,’ he said when asked about their touchline exchange, which ended with a handshake.

‘It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head.’

When pressed on whether he later spoke to Ronaldo, Hallgrimsson added: ‘No, I think we spoke enough when he came off.

‘There was nothing to speak about. This was just a moment of a little silliness from him, I would say.’

However, Martinez defended Ronaldo and instead hit out at Hallgrimsson for his actions. 

‘The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team,’ the former Wigan, Swansea, Everton and Belgium boss said.

‘He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender.

‘I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.

‘The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.’