Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a 30-day suspension and fined €255 after leaving Portugal’s national team camp during the UEFA Nations League, with the country’s football federation confirming that the forward has received the minimum punishment available under its regulations.
The 41-year-old departed the squad after being left on the bench against Norway on 27 September and learning he would not start against Denmark on 1 October. He subsequently accused coach Jorge Jesus of breaking an agreement to give him playing time.
The suspension was backdated to the Denmark fixture, meaning Ronaldo has already served 19 days of the ban and will complete it by the end of October.
Portugal’s football federation said its disciplinary committee had considered “the remorse shown in the statement” Ronaldo issued on 6 October, in which he apologised to supporters and accepted that punishment could follow.
The regulations allow suspensions of between one and six months for players who leave the national team without authorisation.
Ronaldo, Portugal’s record international goalscorer and appearance-maker, insisted after his departure that he had no intention of retiring from international football.
“I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” he said in a social media post.
Jesus later indicated that he would continue to consider the forward for selection, provided Ronaldo remained committed to representing his country and performing for his Saudi club, Al Nassr.
Portugal have won all four Nations League matches played without their captain, securing qualification for the quarter-finals with two games to spare.
Ronaldo will be eligible again before Portugal’s final Group A4 fixtures, against Denmark on 14 November and Wales three days later.
He did not directly address Monday’s disciplinary announcement on Instagram, instead posting a picture of himself preparing to train with Al Nassr alongside the caption: “Putting in the work.”
