Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team’s training camp without permission. The federation’s Disciplinary Council found that the 41-year-old intentionally committed an offence under Article 160(1) of its disciplinary regulations.
“Applying to him, consequently, the sanction of suspension for 30 (thirty) days and, additionally, the sanction of a fine which is set at 2.5 UC, that is, €255.00 (two hundred and fifty-five euros),” the council’s statement read. The incident occurred on September 30, a day before Portugal were scheduled to face Denmark in Copenhagen.
The suspension will expire before Portugal’s next Nations League fixtures against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17. Any return to the squad will depend on manager Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo’s departure followed a disagreement with Jesus over his involvement in a match against Norway. The forward alleged that the coach had promised him 30 minutes of playing time but ultimately left him as an unused substitute.
“He [Jesus] told me to be prepared because I would play 30 minutes. Everyone knows what happened next,” Ronaldo said in a statement. “I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes go by, and was not called upon. The coach had broken his word to me.” The Al-Nassr striker has 981 career goals, according to the report, as he pursues the 1,000-goal milestone.