Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension for leaving the Portuguese national team camp during the UEFA Nations League, the country’s football federation officially announced on Monday. The 41-year-old veteran forward departed the Portugal training base on September 30 after expressing deep frustration over his lack of playing time under national team coach Jorge Jesus.
The veteran striker was initially left on the bench as an unused substitute during the fixture against Norway on September 27. Friction escalated when he discovered he would also not feature in the starting lineup for the subsequent match against Denmark on October 1, prompting his abrupt departure from the team headquarters.
Disciplinary Measures and Financial Penalty
- Cristiano Ronaldo received a 30-day suspension from the Portuguese football federation for abandoning the national squad.
- The veteran player was additionally ordered to pay a fine amounting to 255 euros, equivalent to 286 US dollars.
- The disciplinary committee enforced the minimum penalty outlined in the federation regulations, which mandate bans ranging from one to six months.
- Ronaldo publicly apologized to supporters in early October, stating that he would willingly accept any official punishment handed down.
Impact on National Team and Upcoming Fixtures
Because the suspension officially took effect on the day of the Denmark match on October 1, the forward has already served 19 days of his ban. He is set to complete the remainder of the penalty by the end of October, clearing him for upcoming international duties. Despite the high-profile absence of their record appearance-maker and all-time top goalscorer, Portugal maintained exceptional form in the tournament. The squad successfully won all four of their subsequent Nations League fixtures without their talisman, comfortably securing qualification for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. Portugal are scheduled to host Denmark on November 14 before traveling to face Wales on November 17 to conclude their Group A4 campaign, by which point Ronaldo will be fully eligible to return to international selection.
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