Cristiano Ronaldo spent time in Washington last week with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United States President Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Elon Musk was there too, so you might reason that he has served enough punishment. The only complication: Ronaldo looked delighted throughout. Truly a shock to us all.

On Tuesday, news broke that Fifa had magically removed the extra two games from Ronaldo’s suspension for elbowing Ireland’s Dara O’Shea in the back. The usual three-match ban – in the past reduced to two games – would have seen him miss matches at next year’s World Cup. Now one of the showpiece players will be available. You might be able to read between the lines, given the gap looks as big as an ocean. At least the worst people in your social me

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