Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension by Portuguese FA after leaving Portugal camp
Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined 255 euros by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving Portugal's camp in Copenhagen last month. Record reports he has already served 19 days, which would leave him available for November's Nations League matches, although the federation has not spelled out exactly what the sanction covers.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros (about £215) by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after leaving Portugal's international camp last month, BBC Sport reported on Monday. The FPF disciplinary council upheld the charge in full, finding that the 41-year-old captain intentionally committed an offence under Article 160(1) of its disciplinary regulations when he left the squad's base in Copenhagen on 30 September, before the Nations League match against Denmark.
Ronaldo had been an unused substitute against Norway and then learned he would not start against Denmark. In a lengthy statement he said he left because coach Jorge Jesus had twice "broke his word" about his role, calling it an "absolute breach of trust", and told FPF president Pedro Proença he was not in the right frame of mind to stay. Jesus has denied making any such agreement but has left the door open for Ronaldo's return. Ronaldo later accepted accountability and apologised to his team-mates and supporters, saying he deserved to be punished, and Proença has said there is a strong desire inside the federation to have him back once the matter is resolved.
What the ban will cost him in matches is less clear. Ronaldo was provisionally suspended on 9 October; BBC Sport notes that if the 30 days are backdated to that point he would be available for Portugal's next match, against Denmark on 14 November, while Portugal's Record, citing the FPF ruling, calculated that he has already served 19 days and has 11 left, which would also make him available for the November games against Denmark (14 November) and Wales (17 November). The federation's statement, as reported, did not itself specify which matches or activities the suspension covers, so that timetable should be treated as the Portuguese press's reading of the ruling rather than an FPF fixture list. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances, both men's world records. Source: BBC (with Record, Reuters)