The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has provisionally suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and opened disciplinary proceedings against him for walking out of the national team camp during the latest international break.
The 41-year-old forward left the squad before Portugal’s Nations League tie against Denmark after a row with coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo accused Jesus of reneging on promises over his playing time after he was left on the bench for the whole of the previous game against Norway.
“Urgent” case
In a statement on Saturday, the federation said its Non-Professional Section had launched proceedings on October 9 “with the purpose of the investigation of any disciplinary relevance of the facts participated on October 7”.
Ronaldo is under an automatic provisional suspension, and a further, non-automatic preventive suspension has been imposed, the FPF said. The case is classed as urgent and has been referred to the Disciplinary Investigation Commission. Details will stay confidential until the inquiry ends.
Ronaldo apologises
Earlier this week, Ronaldo issued a long public statement in which he said he should face consequences.
“I also owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp. Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as those who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it,” he said.
He added that he remains available to play for Portugal once any suspension has been served, provided he is fit and playing for his club.
Ban could last six months
Under federation rules, leaving a national team camp without justification carries a suspension of one to six months. A ban of more than one month would rule Ronaldo out of Portugal’s November Nations League games against Denmark and Wales.
Ronaldo returned to club action on Friday and scored the opening goal in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 win over Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League.
