The Portuguese Football Federation has taken action against Cristiano Ronaldo, suspending him and launching disciplinary proceedings following his departure from the national team camp. The federation announced on Saturday that the matter has been handed over to its disciplinary investigation committee, with the details remaining confidential until a conclusion is reached.
Ronaldo, aged 41, left the Portugal team camp during the international break due to a disagreement with new coach Jorge Jesus over his lack of playing time. Despite Ronaldo being either benched or absent, Portugal secured victories in all three matches, with his replacement Goncalo Ramos making an impact by scoring three goals.
After the international break, Ronaldo addressed his 679 million Instagram followers, urging the Portugal coach to admit to an error in instructing him to warm up on the sidelines and then not fielding him against Norway. However, Jesus did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.
In his social media post, Ronaldo mentioned that he anticipated facing a suspension as per federation rules but assured his fans of future farewell matches. The footballer may be subject to significant penalties for his departure from the training camp, as the federation’s disciplinary regulations stipulate a suspension of one to six months and a fine for any player who leaves a training session, match, or national team activity without justification.
Although Ronaldo did inform the federation of his decision to leave, it remains uncertain whether his departure will be deemed justified under the regulations. Ronaldo acknowledged the need for consequences for his actions, stating in his recent statement that everyone in football, regardless of their status, must abide by the same rules.
