Five time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and fined €255 (£215) by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after leaving Portugal’s national team camp in September.
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward walked out of the squad after being left on the bench against Norway and subsequently learning that he would not start Portugal’s Nations League fixture against Denmark on October 1.
Ronaldo later explained his decision in a lengthy statement, accusing Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word on two occasions and describing the situation as an “absolute breach of trust”.
The FPF disciplinary committee said it considered the remorse expressed by the Portugal captain, as well as his contributions to football and recognition for his sporting achievements, when determining the punishment.
According to the committee, Ronaldo also submitted his curriculum vitae, detailing his awards and career accomplishments, as part of his defence.
In his statement, Ronaldo accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised to his teammates and supporters. He also acknowledged that he deserved to be punished for leaving the national team camp.
The suspension took effect from the date of Portugal’s match against Denmark, meaning Ronaldo had already served 19 days of the ban when the FPF announced its decision.
As a result, he is not expected to miss any of Portugal’s upcoming international fixtures because of the punishment.
Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark again in the Nations League on November 14 before travelling to Wales three days later.
Jesus has denied reaching any agreement with Ronaldo that was subsequently broken, although the coach has indicated that the forward could return to the national team.
Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, also expressed the desire to see the dispute resolved and Ronaldo return to international duty.
Speaking to Portuguese publication Record, Proença said there was a “strong desire” for the captain to rejoin the national team once the matter had been settled.
Ronaldo remains one of the most decorated players in international football, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, according to the figures cited in the report.
Both totals are men’s international records. He also captained Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 and helped the country win two UEFA Nations League titles.
The forward joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a reported annual salary of £177m and subsequently signed a contract extension.
Despite the disciplinary episode, his international future remains a significant issue for Portugal as the team prepares for its forthcoming fixtures.
