Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation after dramatically walking out of his country’s international camp last month.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Credits: BBC Sport)
The 41-year-old Portugal captain left the Nations League squad in September after being left as an unused substitute against Norway — and then discovering he would not start the following game against Denmark. Furious, the Al-Nassr forward quit the camp entirely.
In a lengthy statement at the time, Ronaldo said he had departed because Portugal coach Jorge Jesus had twice “broken his word,” accusing him of an “absolute breach of trust.” It was a stunning public rupture between the nation’s greatest-ever player and its manager.
Provisional Ban Becomes Full Suspension
Ronaldo was first provisionally suspended on October 9 while the federation investigated the incident. On Monday, the federation’s disciplinary council ruled against the superstar, upholding the charge against him in full.
Alongside the 30-day ban, Ronaldo was hit with a fine of 255 euros. The relatively small financial penalty does little to soften the symbolism of the decision: Portugal’s football authorities have officially sanctioned their most decorated player for abandoning his post.
A Fractured Relationship
The numbers remain staggering. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, a haul that dwarfs every other player in international football history. For a player of that stature to be benched, twice, and then suspended by his own federation is almost without precedent.
The fallout raises serious questions about Ronaldo’s international future. With the disciplinary council showing no leniency, the door appears to have slammed shut on any reconciliation under the current regime — and the rift between captain and coach shows no signs of healing.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
