Ronaldo suspended by Portugal FA after leaving camp and criticising coach

The Portuguese Football Federation has provisionally suspended Cristiano Ronaldo after the veteran forward left the national squad during the recent international window, soccer authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The governing body announced that formal disciplinary proceedings were launched against the 41-year-old team captain following a ruling made on Friday by its Non-Professional Section. Under federation guidelines, an athlete who walks away from national team duty can face a suspension lasting between one and six months.

The fallout began during Portugal's Nations League campaign, following a disagreement between Ronaldo and head coach Jorge Jesus. In a letter that surfaced this week, Ronaldo stated that Jesus had informed him he would appear as a substitute in a fixture against Norway. Although the forward warmed up on the touchline, he remained an unused substitute throughout the game. Ahead of Portugal's subsequent encounter with Denmark, Ronaldo informed officials of his departure and exited the camp.

Addressing the controversy, Ronaldo acknowledged that abandoning the squad was a mistake while asserting that the manager repeatedly failed to honor his commitments. He offered an apology to his fellow players, stating that even though there was a breach of trust regarding the coach's word, he should not have walked out. Ronaldo took full personal responsibility for his departure.

The striker also stated that he expected to face consequences from the federation, noting that his role as captain meant his actions should be viewed strictly without leniency. He highlighted that leading the squad served as an aggravating factor rather than an excuse for his conduct.

Ronaldo has since rejoined his club, Al Nassr, scoring during a 3-0 win against Diriyah in Saudi Arabia on Friday. Across his international career, which includes an appearance at his sixth World Cup earlier this year, Ronaldo has earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals for Portugal. Despite the ongoing disciplinary case, the forward indicated that he still hopes to represent his country in upcoming matches, with Portugal scheduled to play Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales next month.