Portugal suspend Cristiano Ronaldo as federation opens urgent disciplinary case

Federation opens urgent proceedings after Ronaldo’s departure

Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by Portugal’s football federation, which has opened urgent disciplinary proceedings following his departure from the national team camp ahead of a Nations League match against Denmark.

The federation, as quoted by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, said Ronaldo had been subject to an automatic preventive suspension until proceedings began. It then determined a “non-automatic preventive suspension” and gave the case urgent status.

Ronaldo says coach broke playing-time agreement

Ronaldo apologised to supporters on Tuesday while criticising Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. He said he would accept any “suspension that is imposed” on him and gave his account of the disagreement that preceded his departure from Copenhagen.

According to Ronaldo, he and Jesus had agreed that he would miss Portugal’s matches against Norway and Denmark to manage his fitness. But on the day of the Norway match, he said, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes. Ronaldo said he warmed up from half-time but was not brought on.

“The manager had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said.

The federation’s proceedings now put the dispute into a formal disciplinary process. The report did not specify the length of the preventive suspension or the outcome of the case.