Tensions flared at the end of the first half when Joao Cancelo challenged Agustin Arce near the byline. After falling, Arce appeared to make contact with Cancelo using his foot. The Portuguese defender reacted, heating up the atmosphere on the field and drawing in many other players.

Rafael Leao's altercation with an opponent during Portugal's 2-1 friendly win over Chile at Jamor stadium, Portugal on 6/6. Photo: Reuters

During the chaos, Ivan Roman rushed over and pushed Cancelo. Leao immediately intervened to support his teammate, leading to an altercation with the Chilean player. The forward repeatedly pushed Roman in the neck area, then slapped him in the face, causing him to fall. The referee promptly issued red cards to both players.

After the match, Leao took to Instagram to explain his angry reaction. "Regarding the red card, I simply wanted to protect my teammate, with no intention of harming the opponent", the AC Milan forward stated. "Thank you to all Portuguese fans who were at Jamor. The atmosphere was great, we will continue this journey together".

The direct red card also raised concerns about Leao's potential suspension for Portugal's opening match against DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup on 17/6. Portugal has one more friendly match against Nigeria in Leiria on 10/6 before heading to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

According to FIFA regulations, a player who receives a direct red card will be suspended for at least one match, but the enforcement of the penalty depends on the nature of the match where the offense occurred. Typically, penalties from friendly matches are served in subsequent friendly matches, rather than automatically transferring to official matches. In contrast, red cards received in qualification rounds or tournament finals result in suspensions for the next official matches in the same competition.

Therefore, Leao is likely to only miss the friendly match against Nigeria and remain eligible to play against DR Congo in the opening group stage match of the 2026 World Cup.

However, FIFA still reserves the right to review the severity of the incident based on the referee's report and related documentation. If the conduct is deemed serious violence, the penalty could be increased and affect official matches.

A similar situation previously occurred with Curaçao. Forward Jurgen Locadia was sent off in a friendly against Scotland, raising doubts about his availability for the 2026 World Cup. However, FIFA later applied a clause distinguishing between friendly and official matches, resulting in Locadia's suspension only applying to the next friendly against Aruba, thus making him eligible for Curaçao's opening match at the biggest football event.

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the match. Photo: AP

In yesterday's friendly match, coach Roberto Martinez fielded a strong lineup featuring Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Fernandes' through ball led to Ronaldo's shot into the Chilean net, but the goal was disallowed.

In the second half, with both teams down to 10 men, Portugal dominated and scored two goals through Goncalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes. Chile's efforts only resulted in one goal from Lucas Cepeda in stoppage time.

Fernandes, who wore the captain's armband at the end of the match, believes the victory against Chile offered many lessons for the team. According to the 31-year-old midfielder, Portugal controlled the game for most of the playing time and frequently brought the ball into the opponent's final third. However, the team needs more patience in final actions to create more opportunities.

Commenting on Leao's red card, Fernandes suggested it was a result of the intensity on the field rather than malicious intent. The 31-year-old midfielder also stated the incident demonstrated the unity of the Portuguese team, a factor crucial for the 2026 World Cup. "The important thing is that we always stick together in such moments. Of course, the team needs to be calmer to avoid unnecessary penalties, but teamwork and cohesion will certainly be important at the World Cup", he expressed.

In other friendly matches yesterday, England beat New Zealand 1-0 with a goal from Harry Kane, Germany defeated the United States 2-1 with goals from Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane. Brazil also beat Egypt 2-1, thanks to goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Endrick Felipe.

Hong Duy compiled