Cristiano Ronaldo Accepts Sanction After Unauthorized Departure From Portugal Camp
Cristiano Ronaldo faced a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros after leaving the Portugal national team camp without authorization, chosun.com reported. The disciplinary action stems from an incident on September 30, during the September-October A-match call-up period, following a disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus over playing time.
As public scrutiny intensified over his abrupt departure, the 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward issued a public apology acknowledging his responsibility. Ronaldo stated that his actions warranted punishment and that as captain he should face aggravated penalties. Behind the scenes, however, the player pursued a different course of action with the governing body of Portuguese football.
Mitigation Grounds Submitted to the Portuguese Football Federation
Foreign media outlets, including The Guardian, reported on October 21 that Ronaldo directly presented three grounds for mitigation to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Rather than accepting the heavier penalties he publicly stated he would accept, the veteran forward sought to reduce the severity of the impending disciplinary measures.
Ronaldo’s defense package highlighted his clean disciplinary record over the previous three seasons alongside his active cooperation in clarifying the facts of the incident. To further support his case, the submission detailed his extensive career achievements with both club and country. These accomplishments included his leadership during the UEFA Euro 2016 championship, his five Ballon d’Or awards, and official medals and commendations received from high-ranking Portuguese officials over the years.
Reduced Sanctions and Retroactive Suspension Terms
The FPF reviewed the submitted mitigation arguments and adjusted the initial disciplinary package. According to the federation’s announcement on October 19, officials halved both the initial suspension period and the monetary fine under consideration. They subsequently reduced the remaining measures by half again after factoring in Ronaldo’s formal admission of wrongdoing.
The resulting penalty totaled a 30-day suspension alongside the 255-euro fine, which equates to approximately 380,000 Korean won. Because the FPF applied the suspension retroactively from the date of the September 30 incident, the timeline creates a clear path for the player’s return to international competition.
Portugal Squad Availability for the November Match Against Denmark
With the 30-day suspension calculated from September 30, the ban expires before Portugal returns to competitive action. Portugal is scheduled to face Denmark on November 14. Observers both inside and outside the football community have characterized the disciplinary outcome as lenient given the nature of an unauthorized departure from a national team training camp.
Ronaldo remains eligible to return to the pitch for the upcoming fixture, provided national team selectors include him in future A-match squads.
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