Cristiano Ronaldo angry as five-game ban is upheld

Ronaldo has hit out after being banned for five games

Cristiano Ronaldo has called his five-match ban for pushing a referee "exaggerated and ridiculous" and claims he is being persecuted after failing to have the sanction overturned on appeal.

During Sunday night's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first-leg victory over Barcelona, in which he scored, the Real Madrid forward reacted badly after being shown a second yellow for diving by match official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, shoving the Spaniard in the back.

A Spanish football federation (RFEF) committee has now dismissed an appeal, meaning Ronaldo will miss Wednesday evening's Spanish Super Cup return leg against Barca, live on Sky Sports Football, and upcoming La Liga games against Deportivo La Coruna, Valenica, Levante and Real Sociedad.

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After scoring a stunning goal for Real Madrid at the Nou Camp, Cristiano Ronaldo then received a second yellow card for diving and pushed the referee before leaving the pitch

Ronaldo reacted angrily on social media, writing in an Instagram post on his official page: "Impossible to stay quiet with the situation. Five games! It seems to me exaggerated and ridiculous. This is called persecution. Thanks to my team-mates for the support.."

Real boss Zinedine Zidane branded Ronaldo's second yellow card as "ludicrous" following the victory over Barca .

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Real Madrid will be without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo when they host Barcelona in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup

He said: "I'm annoyed that Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, it might not have been a penalty, but still, giving him a card is ludicrous.
"I am truly proud of my players, they played well as 10 and really wanted the win. Now we turn our attentions to the return leg and we need to relax."