Spain's administrative sports court (TAD) has rejected Cristiano Ronaldo's appeal against a five-match ban for pushing a referee following a red card during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, ending the Real Madrid forward's final chance to have the decision overturned.
"TAD has rejected the appeal presented by Real Madrid against the five-match ban," a TAD spokesperson confirmed to Agence France-Presse.
Ronaldo blasted Spanish authorities for "persecution" after being hit with an additional four-match ban on top of the mandatory one-game suspension for pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in protest at his red card in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou earlier this month. He was controversially shown a second yellow card for diving after coming off the bench to score his side's third goal.
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A Spanish football federation (RFEF) committee had already rejected an earlier appeal by the Spanish champions to have the red card rescinded, meaning Ronaldo missed the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup - a game Real won 2-0 - and the opening match of the Primera Liga campaign, a 3-0 win away at Deportivo La Coruna.
The Portuguese forward will now miss this weekend's match at home to Valenica, as well as games against Levante and Real Sociedad.
"Impossible to be immune to this situation, 5 games!!" Ronaldo, 32, posted to his 108 million followers on Instagram after his first appeal was dismissed by the federation last week.
"It seems to me exaggerated and ridiculous, this is called persecution!"
