6 days ago
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By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after it opened disciplinary proceedings over his departure from the national team’s training camp ahead of a UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
The federation announced the decision on Saturday, October 10, following a resolution adopted by its Non-Professional Section on October 9. It classified the case as urgent, with the final outcome pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The disciplinary action followed Ronaldo’s abrupt departure from Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen after a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team.
Ronaldo, 41, had remained on the bench throughout Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway, despite warming up during the match. He subsequently learned that he would not start against Denmark, prompting his decision to leave the camp.
In a lengthy public statement, the Al-Nassr forward accused Jesus of breaking an agreement concerning his playing time and the handling of his omission from the Norway match.
Ronaldo said he had agreed to miss the Norway and Denmark fixtures to manage his fitness. According to his account, however, the coach later told him he would play for 30 minutes against Norway, but he was never brought on despite warming up.
He further alleged that a subsequent agreement for Jesus to clarify the situation publicly was not honoured. Jesus, however, denied making such an agreement, according to Reuters.
Despite criticising the coach’s handling of the situation, Ronaldo accepted responsibility for leaving the camp and apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters.
He also urged the federation to impose a punishment, arguing that his position as national team captain meant his actions should carry greater responsibility.
Ronaldo stressed that he remained available to represent Portugal after serving any suspension imposed on him, provided he was physically fit and performing well at club level.
In its official statement, the FPF said disciplinary proceedings had been initiated to establish whether the reported events of October 7 warranted further action. It confirmed that a non-automatic preventive suspension had been imposed in addition to the automatic preventive suspension that applied before the formal proceedings began.
The case has been referred to the federation’s Disciplinary Investigation Committee, with details remaining confidential until the investigation is completed.
Under the disciplinary regulations cited by Goal, Ronaldo could face a suspension of between one and six months, alongside a financial fine, if his departure from the national team camp is found to have been unjustified. The final penalty will depend on the outcome of the proceedings.
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