Cristiano Ronaldo Handed 30-Day Suspension After Portugal Camp Walkout

The Portuguese FA’s disciplinary council upheld the charge in full after the 41-year-old left the squad following a rift with coach Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days by the Portuguese Football Federation after walking out of the national team camp earlier this month. The federation’s disciplinary council announced on Monday, October 19, that it had upheld the charge against the 41-year-old in full and fined him €255.

What happened

The row began after Portugal’s Nations League match against Norway, when Ronaldo stayed on the bench as an unused substitute. He then accused head coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word about his role in the team.

Ronaldo left Portugal’s base in Copenhagen before their Nations League game against Denmark. Jesus denied that he had made any agreement with the forward. However, after Portugal beat Denmark 2-1, he left the door open for Ronaldo to return.

The ruling

The disciplinary council found that Ronaldo had intentionally committed an offence under Article 160(1) of the federation’s disciplinary regulations. Proceedings were opened on October 9, two days after the incident was reported.

The federation’s statement did not say which matches or activities the suspension would cover. It also did not say whether the time Ronaldo has already spent under a provisional suspension would count towards the 30 days.

Ronaldo apologises

Ronaldo has since apologised for leaving his teammates and for failing to acknowledge the supporters after the Norway match. He has said he remains available for selection once he has served his punishment.

Federation president Pedro Proença has also made it clear that everyone at the federation wants Ronaldo back in the national team once the matter is resolved.

What’s next

The suspension is a rare moment of conflict between Portugal and their all-time leading scorer. For now, the door to a return remains open on both sides. How Jesus handles Ronaldo’s role in the squad will be the big question when he is next eligible for selection.