Cristiano Ronaldo handed 30-day ban and €255 fine by the Portuguese FA

The Portuguese FA’s disciplinary council delivered its verdict on Monday: a 30-day suspension and a €255 (£215) fine for Cristiano Ronaldo. Nineteen days earlier, the 41-year-old had left the camp in Copenhagen, on the eve of the Nations League fixture against Denmark. Portugal won it 4-2 without their captain.

The charge was upheld in full. The council’s statement, relayed by RMC Sport, found Ronaldo “guilty of having committed the disciplinary infraction set out and sanctioned by the first paragraph of article 160 of the FPF’s disciplinary regulations”, “within a single act” and “intentionally”. In the council’s reading, walking out on the eve of a match had no valid justification.

A ban that may not touch a single match

The substance is thin. RMC Sport and Foot Mercato describe the ban as retroactive: eleven days had already been served by the date of the decision, which would leave the captain free for November’s gathering. The Guardian notes that the statement says neither which matches the ban covers nor whether the time already served counts towards the thirty days. The fixtures are known: Portugal face Denmark on 14 November, then Wales on the 17th, both in the Nations League.

Proença: “one of our key pieces”

Federation president Pedro Proença had opened the door before the verdict. Speaking at an FPF event in Funchal, he said, in comments reported by ESPN: “Our captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of our key pieces.” The Guardian adds that the whole federation wants him back once the matter is settled.

Ronaldo, for his part, said he accepted the sanction and remained available for the national team, while accusing Jorge Jesus of having “twice broken his word” over his role in the side. He also promised, via ABC, “one or more farewell matches” with Portugal. In Monday’s reports, Jorge Jesus does not comment; he had denied any agreement over his captain’s role.