AFCON 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) Disciplinary Council after abandoning the national team’s training camp in Denmark last month.
The decision, announced on Monday, follows disciplinary proceedings opened earlier this month over the 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward’s decision to leave the squad on 30 September. Ronaldo walked out ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark after being left as an unused substitute in the previous game against Norway and learning he would not start the next fixture.
According to the non-professional section of the FPF Disciplinary Council, the accusation was judged fully proven. The body applied Article 160 of the Disciplinary Regulations, imposing a 30-day suspension plus an accessory fine of 2.5 accounting units (€255) for the intentional abandonment of national team duties.
Under FPF rules, a player who leaves or fails to attend a national team activity without justification faces a suspension of one to six months and a fine. Ronaldo’s case was treated as urgent, and the final sanction reflects the minimum range after consideration of the facts.
Ronaldo had already apologised publicly for his actions. In a lengthy statement, he accepted full responsibility, apologised to his teammates and Portuguese fans, and explicitly called on the federation to punish him, stating that the consequences of his decision should be assessed and applied under the same rules that apply to every player.
The suspension relates solely to national team duties. Ronaldo remains free to play for Al-Nassr. The ban is expected to run its course in the coming weeks, potentially affecting his availability for Portugal’s upcoming Nations League fixtures in November.
The episode stemmed from a public fallout with head coach Jorge Jesus over playing time and what Ronaldo described as a “breach of trust.” Portugal continued their strong Nations League campaign without him, securing victories after his departure
