Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez felt Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card was overly severe after the captain was dismissed for the first time in his international career during Thursday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Ireland in Dublin.

Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card for swinging an elbow into the back of defender Dara O’Shea, but VAR intervention led to the caution being upgraded to a straight red. The dismissal marked the first sending-off of his 226-cap Portugal career.

“I thought it was a little harsh because he’s doing everything he can for the team,” Martínez said. “For almost an hour he was in the box being grabbed, pulled, pushed — and he’s trying to free himself from the defender.

“The action looks worse than it really is. I don’t see it as an elbow — it’s more of a full-body movement — but from the camera angle it appears like an elbow. Still, we accept the decision.”

Martínez also took issue with comments made earlier in the week by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, who suggested Ronaldo had “controlled the referee” during the teams’ previous meeting in Lisbon, a match Portugal won 1-0.

“The only thing that leaves a sour taste is hearing the Ireland coach talk yesterday about referees being influenced,” Martínez said. “Then today you see a big centre-half going down theatrically from a turn of Cristiano’s body.”

Portugal remain in a strong position despite the defeat. Already guaranteed at least a playoff place, they sit two points ahead of Hungary at the top of Group F, with Ireland a further point behind.

On Sunday, Portugal welcome Armenia, while Ireland travel to Budapest to take on Hungary in the final round of group fixtures.