Cristiano Ronaldo has been fined £215 and handed a one-month ban by the Portuguese Football Federation following his departure from the national team camp last month. The ban, however, is backdated to September 30, meaning he will have served it in full by the time Portugal’s next match against Denmark on November 14, allowing him to miss no games during the suspension period.
The incident arose after Portugal’s Nations League match against Norway on September 27, when Ronaldo was reportedly upset after being left on the bench despite being instructed to warm up. Ronaldo contended he had been guaranteed 30 minutes of playing time and accused national team manager Jorge Jesus of breaking his promise twice. Following the game, Ronaldo left the team camp and did not participate in Portugal’s remaining fixtures during the international break.
The episode sparked concerns about Ronaldo’s future with the national team and raised questions about potential disruptions to the squad and the coaching staff. Ronaldo later issued an apology, acknowledging that he deserved punishment and stating that the disciplinary consequences should not be reduced.
In determining the sanction, the disciplinary committee reportedly took into account a dossier submitted by Ronaldo that referenced his five Ballon d’Or awards and his long-standing contributions to Portuguese football. This was cited as a significant factor influencing the relatively light penalty issued.
Ronaldo, now 41, currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where his daily earnings reportedly amount to £488,000. The imposed fine represents a negligible financial consequence relative to his income.
The national team’s management and football officials have not commented in detail on the decision, but the resolution appears to aim at balancing disciplinary measures with recognition of Ronaldo’s status and impact on Portuguese football. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the player and coaching staff surrounding his role and minutes on the pitch during international fixtures.