Football fans have reacted furiously to Cristiano Ronaldo being spared a red card after an off the ball clash with Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji, in which the Portugal captain appeared to strike the player.

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Paraguayan referee Enrique Cáceres consulted VAR after a clash between the two left Pouraliganji in a heap, but eventually brandished only a yellow card, saving the Portugal skipper from an early bath.

Predictably, social media users were keen to have their say on the matter, with some saying the referee had "bottled" dismissing the player.