LISBON, Portugal — The Portuguese Football Federation has provisionally suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and launched disciplinary proceedings after the star forward abruptly abandoned the national squad during a recent international window, the organization announced Saturday.
The federation confirmed in an official statement that it referred the matter to its disciplinary investigation panel on Saturday, classifying the case as urgent. The investigation into the 41-year-old team captain was formally initiated Friday, and federation officials stated that all findings will remain private until a final ruling is issued.
Dispute Over Playing Time
Ronaldo left the national team camp in Copenhagen on Sept. 30, the day before Portugal faced Denmark in a UEFA Nations League fixture. The departure followed a disagreement with recently appointed head coach Jorge Jesus regarding Ronaldo’s reduced role on the pitch.
The conflict reached a boiling point during a previous match against Norway in Oslo, which Portugal won 2-1. Ronaldo said an assistant coach informed him he would play approximately 30 minutes. However, after spending time warming up along the sideline, Ronaldo remained on the bench. Following the final whistle, a frustrated Ronaldo walked directly down the tunnel without greeting the traveling supporters.
Ronaldo subsequently departed the squad, accusing Jesus of breaking commitments regarding his usage and an agreed-upon media approach ahead of the Denmark match. Jesus made no public acknowledgment of having made an error.
Despite the absence of their longtime captain, Portugal continued its winning run. Young striker Gonçalo Ramos stepped into the starting lineup and scored three goals during the sequence of matches. Portugal secured victories over Wales, Norway and Denmark, qualifying for the Nations League quarterfinals.
Captain Accepts Discipline
Addressing the controversy on social media, where he has roughly 679 million followers, Ronaldo apologized to Portugal supporters and his teammates for walking out. He conceded that his position as team captain made the walkout even less defensible.
“I have already apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences,” Ronaldo wrote. “Anyone in football as I am knows that, regardless of each person’s status, the rules are the same for everyone.”
Ronaldo also expressed hope that he could return to international competition once any penalties are served, promising fans that he intends to play in future farewell matches for his country.
Potential Sanctions and Next Steps
Under the Portuguese federation’s disciplinary rulebook, any player who abandons national team duties or fails to appear without proper justification faces a suspension ranging between one and six months, alongside potential financial penalties. Although Ronaldo notified officials before departing, federation authorities have not indicated whether they consider his departure justified under the governing statutes.
Ronaldo returned to Saudi Arabia to play for his club, Al-Nassr FC, scoring a goal on Friday during a 3-0 victory against Diriyah. The strike marked the 980th goal of his professional career across club and international competitions.
Portugal is scheduled to play its next UEFA Nations League game against Denmark in mid-November. The federation has not established a public timeline for when the investigation will finish or when an official ruling on Ronaldo’s eligibility will be announced.
