Ronaldo banned for five matches for pushing referee

Real Madrid striker will miss Spanish Super Cup return leg and first four La Liga matches

LONDON: Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was banned for five matches for pushing the referee after he was shown a red card against Barcelona in his team's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg victory on Sunday, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said on Monday.

Ronaldo was sent off in bizarre fashion, collecting a yellow card for taking his shirt off during a goal celebration before being shown a second for alleged diving.

Upset by referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea's decision to dismiss him, Ronaldo shoved the official, which landed him in further hot water.

RFEF issued Ronaldo with a €3,005 fine and a four-match suspension in addition to the automatic one-game ban the player was due to serve for his red card.

Ronaldo, who struck a spectacular second goal for a dominant Madrid, will miss the Super Cup second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday and the club's first four La Liga matches.

Having featured in the Confederations Cup for Portugal, the striker only returned to training earlier this month.

He came on as a substitute in the UEFA Super Cup win over Manchester United on August 8.