Real Madrid star to face three-match ban for assault on player

A different Ronaldo must have played the game against Cordoba on Saturday as the Portugal international for the first time in a long while was sent off; the ninth of his career.

The 29 year-old kicked and slapped the home sides’ Brazilian defender, Edimar Fraga midway through the second half, an incident frowned upon by the referee who’d have the 2014 FIFA Ballon D’Or winner no more on the pitch.

The red card ended a frustrating afternoon for Ronaldo who should have been sent off earlier in the game with a similar incident on another Cordoba player.

"I apologise to everyone and especially Edimar for my thoughtless action in today's game," Ronaldo wrote via twitter.

A league body disciplinary meeting could lengthen the severity of the ban from a one-match to three, depending on the​