Portugal open disciplinary case after Cristiano Ronaldo left camp but want captain back

Portugal have opened disciplinary proceedings against Cristiano Ronaldo after the 41-year-old left the national team camp in Copenhagen last week ahead of their Nations League match against Denmark. FPF president Pedro Proenca said the federation, coaching staff and players want Ronaldo to return once the process is concluded.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed disciplinary action had been initiated and that the case was being treated as urgent. "Without prejudice to the automatic preventive suspension to which he was subject until the date of initiation, a non-automatic preventive suspension of the player was determined, and the proceedings were given urgent status," the federation was quoted as saying. Proenca told A Bola that there was "an expressed wish from everyone" for the captain to rejoin the squad. "This includes the federation, the FPF president, the national team coach, the captain and the players," he added.

Proenca also underlined that the federation’s leadership would not decide the sanction. "That will depend solely on the Disciplinary Committee, which is an autonomous body, and it will do its job," he said, identifying the independent Disciplinary Committee as the body responsible for the outcome.

Ronaldo departed after being left unused in Portugal’s match against Norway and reportedly accused head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word twice over his role in the team, which the report says led to tensions. Portugal won that match 2-1, and Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player while keeping open the possibility of Ronaldo returning to the squad.

Ronaldo addressed the controversy on Tuesday, apologising for failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates. He also reaffirmed his availability for national selection, saying he would remain ready to represent Portugal after serving any punishment arising from the incident.

With the disciplinary process ongoing, Ronaldo’s return to the national team will depend on the decision of the Disciplinary Committee; for now the federation’s public stance is that it wants its captain back even as the proceedings continue.