Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Council after leaving the national team’s training camp in Denmark on the 30th of September.
The decision, announced on the 19th of October, takes into account 19 days already served under a provisional suspension, leaving 11 more days to complete. The Madeiran forward will therefore be available for Portugal’s November internationals.
According to the ruling, Ronaldo telephoned Federation President Pedro Proença after leaving Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium and said he was not in a mental condition to remain with the squad. However, the council found that he had neither communicated his intention nor obtained authorisation before leaving.
The 41-year-old subsequently missed training and other scheduled team activities, including meetings, meals and matches, until the camp ended on the 4th of October.
His departure followed tensions over his role in the team. Ronaldo started in Portugal’s 1–0 victory over Wales but remained an unused substitute during the subsequent 2–1 win in Norway, despite warming up for much of the second half. After the match in Oslo, he appeared dissatisfied and left the pitch without joining his teammates in thanking the Portuguese supporters.
He left the camp following coach Jorge Jesus’s press conference ahead of the Denmark match, later alleging in a written statement that the coach had failed to keep his word on more than one occasion.
The Disciplinary Council upheld the charge under Article 160 of the federation’s disciplinary regulations, which provides for a suspension of between one and six months for unjustifiably leaving or failing to attend national team duties.
It concluded that Ronaldo had acted deliberately and was aware that his conduct was prohibited and punishable. The reasons he gave, both privately to Proença and subsequently in public, were not accepted as sufficient justification.
In a statement issued on the 6th of October, Ronaldo accepted responsibility for leaving the camp and apologised to his teammates and supporters. He also said his conduct should receive exemplary punishment.
Four days later, Proença said all parties wanted Ronaldo to return to the national team in November, although his availability would depend on the disciplinary decision.
Portugal, who have already secured top spot in their group and a place in the Nations League quarter-finals, are scheduled to face Denmark in Braga on the 14th of November and Wales in Cardiff on the 17th of November.
Ronaldo holds Portugal’s records for appearances and goals, with 234 caps and 146 goals. He captained the country to victory at Euro 2016 and in the 2019 and 2025 Nations League tournaments.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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