Ronaldo Portugal suspension has become the latest controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese Football Federation imposed a 30-day ban and a €255 fine on the veteran forward for leaving the national team camp following a dispute over his role in the squad. The federation disciplinary council agreed the charge against the 41-year-old forward should be upheld entirely on Monday.
The meeting was about Ronaldo’s withdrawal from Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen ahead of their Nations League match with Denmark. It was said to be a result of a press conference given by head coach Jorge Jesus and the “conversation” between Ronaldo and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. The coach later denied he had violated his promises of keeping Ronaldo in the squad.
The man who had been on the bench for the game against Norway, made accusations that Jesus was breaking their understanding of how he was supposed to play the game. Jesus refused to comment on any such pact, but said he was not against Ronaldo coming back if Portugal won the match 2-1. The disciplinary council said Ronaldo had intentionally committed an offence in the federation’s disciplinary regulations, under Article 160(1).
Formal proceedings were initiated October 9 in response to events reported two days before. But the federation’s declaration did not say which games or national-team events would be impacted by the suspension. There is also no guarantee as to whether time served under a provisional ban will be credited towards the 30 day ban. Since his departure, Ronaldo issued a lengthy statement – over 1700 words – that was subsequently posted on his social media accounts. He said in the statement that he had “failed to recognise supporters after the Norway match, and [he] was leaving his teammates. The ruling comes on top of the spat between Portugal’s top scorer and the national-team staff.
