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Cristiano Ronaldo's five-game ban upheld after failed appeal

Scott Gleeson
USA TODAY
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, reacts after Referee Ricardo de Burgos shows a second yellow card during the Spanish Supercup, first leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. Cristiano Ronaldo was banned for five games on Monday after shoving a referee following his red card for diving in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Barcelona in the season-opening Spanish Super Cup. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) appeals committee turned down Real Madrid's attempt to overturn star player Cristiano Ronaldo's five-game ban, multiple outlets reported Wednesday. That means he'll miss Wednesday's Spanish Super Cup second leg match against Barcelona. 

Ronaldo was issued the suspension for pushing a referee in his team's Spanish Super Cup win at Barcelona on Sunday. Ronaldo, who entered the game as a substitute, first earned a yellow card for taking off his shirt and flexing his muscles to taunt Barcelona fans upon scoring a goal. 

After Ronaldo was dealt a second yellow card for diving to try to win a penalty, he shoved official Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea in the back out of frustration. The red card meant an automatic one-game suspension, but the RFEF added another four matches to the ban as a result of the referee shove. Ronaldo was also fined close to $5,000 for his actions. 

The RFEF disciplinary code states that a minimum of a four-match suspension will be dealt as a result of "slightly violent" behavior. The maximum would have been 12 matches. 

The club could still take the case to the Spanish government's Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte with the slight chance of getting the remaining four games of the suspension reduced.