Cristiano Ronaldo Red Card Update: RFEF Confirms 3-Game Ban While Ref Who Carded CR7, Miguel Ángel Ayza Gámez, Is Suspended 1 Month

Though Real Madrid is happy to have the services of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo for the Copa del Rey semifinals against Spanish Primera Division rival Atlético Madrid, the club and boss Carlo Ancelotti were not thrilled to learn that the 2013 Ballon d'Or Award winner will be forced to miss the team's next three league contests. After drawing a red card in a recent 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao -- for conduct deemed inappropriate by game officials -- CR7 was sent off in the 75th minute of the match and his three-game La Liga ban came shortly after. The Real Madrid boss was confident that he would have the services of Ronaldo for the two-legged semifinals against Atlético and even though he felt that Ronaldo's actions were not in terrible taste, Ancelotti knew that a suspension was highly possible.

“I don't think we will have to wait for the committee's decision,” Ancelotti said prior to Real's 3-0 win over Atlético. “I am convinced that he will not be heavily punished for what happened. Cristiano will start on Wednesday. I don't know what to say about Ronaldo's gesture when he left the pitch. I don't think he meant anything bad with it. He was obviously unhappy with his dismissal as it was a harsh decision. Cristiano is often provoked on the pitch and concedes a lot of fouls. His gesture was not that bad.”

Ronaldo did start the opening leg of the semifinals but the three match ban he received -- one game for swiping at the face of Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegi and two games for making an offensive gesture to a referee -- was recently upheld by the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation. Real Madrid appealed the suspension earlier in the week but after two days to look over the occurrence, RFAF declared Friday morning that Cristiano Ronaldo's ban would stick. Despite learning that Ronaldo will miss upcoming La Liga games against Villareal, Elche and Getafe, the Real Madrid organization will be pleased to know that referee Miguel Ángel Ayza Gámez -- who slapped Ronaldo with the card -- has been suspended one month for his performance during the Bilbao game.

In addition to being shelved for the next month, Gámez will not officiate another Real Madrid match this season and he could experience a drop in his duties as a referee in the competitive Spanish Primera Division.

Through 22 league contests, Real Madrid finds themselves third in La Liga behind Lionel Messi's Barcelona squad and Atlético Madrid.