Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) for 30 days following his departure from the national team camp amid a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus. The suspension was announced on Monday and includes a fine of 255 euros ($286). Ronaldo, 41, left the Portugal camp on September 30 during the UEFA Nations League after expressing frustration with his role in the team.
The incident occurred after Ronaldo was an unused substitute in a match against Norway on September 27 and learned he would not start against Denmark on October 1. Ronaldo accused Jesus of breaking his word regarding his playing time, a claim the coach denied. Jesus later suggested he would consider recalling Ronaldo if the forward demonstrated good form with his club, Al Nassr.
The FPF’s disciplinary committee determined that Ronaldo had intentionally committed an offence under Article 160(1) of the federation’s regulations, which set suspension periods ranging from one to six months for leaving the national team. Ronaldo admitted the facts underlying the charges in a formal statement and expressed remorse, which contributed to the relatively lenient penalty.
The suspension period began on the date of the Denmark match, meaning Ronaldo had already served 19 days of the ban by the time of the announcement and is expected to complete it by the end of October. The federation did not specify whether the suspension affects all matches or only certain fixtures, but Portugal’s upcoming Nations League games against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17 fall after the suspension period ends.
Ronaldo apologized earlier in October for leaving the team camp and failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match. He insisted he was not retiring from international duty and reaffirmed his willingness to return to the national side once the disciplinary process was resolved.
Portugal has performed well in Ronaldo’s absence, securing victories in all four Nations League matches and qualifying for the quarter-finals with two games remaining in their group.
The forward’s recent struggles at the club level have drawn criticism as well. Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag attributed Ronaldo’s performance issues to a lack of fitness and preparation during his second stint at the club. Ronaldo scored only once in 10 league appearances during the 2022-23 season before departing Manchester United in November 2022.
Despite the recent controversy, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer and record appearance-maker in men’s international football. Following the federation’s announcement, Ronaldo posted images of himself training with Al Nassr, captioned “Putting in the work,” signaling his focus on maintaining fitness during the suspension. Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca has expressed hopes for Ronaldo’s return to the national team once the matter concludes.