Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined €255 by the Disciplinary Committee of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) for walking out of the national team’s training camp in Denmark.
The moment sparked a torrent of media stories – even seeing politicians step in to try and smooth ruffled feathers, before Ronaldo himself gave his side of the story, which was focused on his relationship with national coach Jorge Jesus.
Thus the real question on everyone’s lips is not what penalties Ronaldo faces (his fine can be paid in 32 seconds, on the basis of the salary that he receives from Saudi’s Al Nassr) but ‘will he be returning to the national team at all?’
Last night, a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation talked of “wilful misconduct” of the 41-year-old player who holds the record for the most appearances (234) and goals (146) of any other player on the national team – having captained it to victory at the 2016 European Championship and in the 2019 and 2025 editions of the Nations League.
President of the federation, Pedro Proença, stressed over a week ago that “everyone, with no exception, wants us to be together again in November”, when the national team is due to play Denmark in Braga, and Wales in Cardiff, in their final two A4 group matches, for the Nations League – and technically, Ronaldo will be available (as he has been serving out his suspension since October 1).
In the words of Lusa, “it will not be for disciplinary reasons that Ronaldo will be left out of manager Jorge Jesus’s squad for the matches on November 14 and 17, against Denmark in Braga and Wales in Cardiff.”
We just have to wait and see. In the meantime, the international footballing press is talking about Ronaldo stepping in to help bail out Al Nassr from its colossal debts…
Source material: LUSA/ CNN Portugal
Natasha Donn
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.