According to AS Real Madrid have decided to again appeal the five match ban handed to Cristiano Ronaldo for his actions in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona. The case this time will be taken to the Spanish Disciplinary Committee for Sports, the last resort in Spain before an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ronaldo picked up a one match ban for a double yellow card (removing his shirt, followed by an alleged dive), and a four match ban for pushing the referee. Real Madrid will have a two fold strategy to try and reduce the ban:

1: Ronaldo’s second yellow was a mistake

Firstly, by arguing the second yellow card was a mistake, as Ronaldo did not, in their opinion, dive, but rather fell as a result of the clash with the Barcelona defender. If this argument were to be successful this would reduce the suspension by one game, and Real Madrid's case is that this one game ban (for the double yellow card) is the final ban to be served of the two that were applied in respect of the match, meaning the striker would only miss three more games.

2: Ronaldo merely disrespected the referee   

The other strategy of Real Madrid is to reduce the four game that was applied for pushing the referee, without aggressive intent. The club's aim is to convince the Committee that his behavior was merely disrespectful, which carries a two or three game ban.