Ronaldo suspended 30 days and fined for leaving Portugal camp

The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed a 30-day suspension and a fine of €255 for Cristiano Ronaldo after he left the national team camp during the UEFA Nations League break in September. The decision follows formal proceedings initiated by the federation over the captain's conduct.

Ronaldo had remained on the bench during Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway on 27 September, despite claiming that coach Jorge Jesus had promised him around 30 minutes of playing time. He said Jesus instructed him to warm up but did not bring him on, leading to frustration.

He later alleged that Jesus broke a second promise to publicly explain the situation at a press conference. Tensions escalated, prompting Ronaldo to leave the training camp ahead of the match against Denmark.

Before departing, Ronaldo issued a public apology to his teammates and supporters, acknowledging that his departure could not go unpunished and stating he expected an appropriate sanction.

The federation confirmed that Ronaldo fully admitted the facts in a formal statement submitted on Friday, and noted his clean disciplinary record as a mitigating factor. The fine was the maximum allowable after such considerations.

The suspension was backdated to 30 September, the day he left the camp, meaning he has served 19 days as of 19 October and will be eligible to return on 14 November, when Portugal are scheduled to play Denmark in the Nations League.

Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where the team sits third in the standings with 19 points, behind Al Hilal (24) and Al Qadsiah (22). Neom SC, their upcoming opponent, are three places below with 16 points.

Sources

• Mint

• The Hindu

• Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)