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MADRID (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended from Real Madrid's next two matches after his violent outburst in last weekend's league game that included kicking an opponent.
The federation's disciplinary committee on Wednesday banned Ronaldo from home games against Real Sociedad on Saturday and Sevilla on Feb. 4.
The two-game ban will mean Ronaldo will return for the derby at Atletico Madrid on Feb. 7.
Ronaldo, who won his third Ballon d'Or award earlier this month, earned a direct red card for kicking Cordoba defender Edimar late in Saturday's 2-1 win. He then swiped the face of Cordoba's Jose Crespo.
After being booked by the referee, the Portugal forward strolled off the pitch while gesturing to the badge on his shirt for winning the Club World Cup in December.
He apologized later.
The committee's statement said that it "had to base its decision exclusively" on the referee's match report, which did not include Ronaldo hitting Crespo nor his gesture toward his shirt that earned him loud jeers from the Cordoba crowd.
Madrid has three days to appeal.
Ronaldo was suspended for three games in February last year for hitting Athletic Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegi and for making a mocking gesture.
Madrid leads the Spanish league by one point ahead of Barcelona.
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