Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended after the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) initiated disciplinary proceedings against the 41-year-old forward over his decision to leave the national team’s squad.
The federation announced the development on Saturday, describing the case as urgent and confirming that Ronaldo’s suspension would remain in place pending a final decision on the punishment.
“Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo,” the FPF said in a statement.
Ronaldo had earlier apologised to supporters while criticising Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over his handling of the forward’s playing time. He also acknowledged that he would accept any punishment imposed by the federation.
Why Ronaldo Left Portugal’s National Team Camp
Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s Nations League squad followed two incidents involving his expected participation in the team’s matches.
On September 27, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward was asked to warm up as a substitute against Norway but was ultimately not brought onto the pitch.
He subsequently discovered that he would not be included in Portugal’s starting lineup for the match against Denmark on October 1.
The decisions reportedly contributed to Ronaldo’s frustration, eventually leading to his departure from the national team squad.
Ronaldo is the all-time leading goalscorer and record appearance-maker in men’s international football.
Ronaldo Accepts Possible Punishment
On Tuesday, Ronaldo addressed the controversy, accusing Jesus of going back on his word regarding the playing time he had been promised during the Nations League matches.
Despite his criticism of the coach, the Portugal captain insisted that he had no intention of retiring from international football.
He said he remained available for selection once any potential punishment had been served.
“I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” Ronaldo said.
He also acknowledged that his actions could attract disciplinary consequences, accepting that they must be “punished” by the federation.
According to Portuguese media reports, federation regulations provide for suspensions ranging from one to six months for players who miss a training session, a match or another national team activity.
However, the final punishment Ronaldo will face has yet to be determined.
Ronaldo Invokes Pele and Maradona in Criticism of Jesus
Ronaldo’s disagreement with Jesus also centred on what he described as a broken promise about his involvement in the matches.
The forward claimed that Jesus had assured him he would be brought on against Norway but failed to honour that commitment.
He further alleged that, during a press conference ahead of the Denmark match, the coach failed to mention several points they had previously agreed upon during a conversation.
One of Ronaldo’s pre-approved talking points referred to football legends Pele and Diego Maradona.
According to the statement, Ronaldo believed Jesus had “made a mistake in asking someone of the stature of Pele or Maradona to warm up and then not sending him on in the match.”
The comparison was used to underline Ronaldo’s frustration at being asked to warm up without eventually being introduced into the game.
Jesus declined to respond directly to Ronaldo’s statement when questioned about it.
“I read the statement, and now, like I do every day, I’m going to the federation headquarters to work, to think about the Portuguese national team,” the 72-year-old coach said.
Last Sunday, Jesus had stated that he would select Ronaldo for international duty if the forward continued playing for his club and remained interested in representing Portugal.
Portugal’s Nations League Campaign
Despite the controversy surrounding Ronaldo, Portugal have enjoyed an impressive Nations League campaign.
The team won all four of their matches and secured qualification for the quarter-finals with two games still to play.
Portugal are scheduled to host Denmark on November 14 before travelling to face Wales on November 17 in their final two Nations League Group A4 fixtures.
Ronaldo’s suspension could affect his availability for future international matches, depending on the federation’s final disciplinary decision.
Ronaldo Returns to Club Action With Al-Nassr
While awaiting the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings, Ronaldo returned to club football on Friday with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
The forward scored in his team’s 3-0 victory over Diriyah in a Saudi Pro League match.
The goal took Ronaldo’s career tally to 980, bringing him closer to the landmark of 1,000 career goals.
For now, attention remains on the Portuguese Football Federation’s investigation and the potential consequences of the forward’s decision to leave the national team squad.
