Cristiano Ronaldo handed 30-day ban and €255 fine after Portugal walkout
Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old forward, has been suspended for 30 days by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team camp in Copenhagen ahead of Portugal’s Nations League game against Denmark in October, the federation’s disciplinary council said. The council upheld the charge in full and imposed a fine of €255 (£215).
Ronaldo departed Portugal’s base in Copenhagen this month following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the side, having been an unused substitute against Norway. The player accused Jesus of twice breaking his word about that role, and the federation opened proceedings on 9 October over facts reported two days earlier.
The disciplinary council’s non-professional section concluded that Ronaldo had intentionally committed an offence under Article 160(1) of the federation’s disciplinary regulations. The council’s announcement confirmed the 30-day suspension but did not in itself detail which matches or activities the sanction would affect.
Jorge Jesus denied making any agreement with Ronaldo but left the door open for the player’s return after Portugal’s 2-1 win. Ronaldo subsequently apologised for failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, adding that he remained available for selection after serving any punishment arising from the incident.
Portuguese FA president Pedro Proença has said everyone within the federation wanted Ronaldo to return to the national team once the matter was resolved.
Separately, the Egyptian Football Association said on Monday that Fifa had suspended Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Ziko for three and five matches respectively after they criticised the referee following Egypt’s 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the World Cup. The 60-year-old Hassan was sanctioned after blaming refereeing errors for his country’s elimination from the tournament in the last 16, while Ziko insulted the referee in a post-match interview; Ibrahim Hassan, Hossam’s twin and Egypt’s national team director, was also suspended for three matches.
"The decisions include the suspension of Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan for three matches each, while Ziko has been suspended for five matches," the EFA said in a statement.
The Portuguese federation’s disciplinary statement did not specify which matches or activities the 30-day suspension would cover, nor whether time already served under a provisional suspension would count towards the 30-day sanction.