Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined €255 for storming out of the national team’s training camp in Denmark at the end of last month. The Portuguese Football Federation’s (FPF) disciplinary council announced the punishment on Monday, 19 October, after examining the case against the Portugal captain, who had already been suspended as a precaution.
In a statement, the council’s non-professional section said it had found the charge fully proven and applied Article 160 of the Disciplinary Regulations, “on one occasion and wilfully (...)”, imposing a 30-day suspension and, additionally, a fine of 2.5 UC (units of account), or €255.
Ronaldo had been facing a ban of between one and six months, plus a fine, for leaving the squad on 30 September. The regulation states: “A player who, having been duly called up, leaves or fails to attend without justification a training session, match or activity of the national teams, or one connected with the sporting representation of the FPF or of Portugal, shall be punished with a suspension of one to six months and, additionally, if a professional player, with a fine of between 5 and 10 UC [roughly €500 to €1,000, with one UC worth €102].”
The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward walked out on 30 September, while the squad were preparing for Nations League Group A4 games against Denmark and Norway, the latter on the Sunday. Portugal had already beaten Wales (1-0) and Norway (2-1).
After the incident, FPF president Pedro Proença said on 10 October that everyone wanted Ronaldo back in the squad in November. “All of us, without exception, want to be together again in November,” the former referee said at the opening of a second phase at the Porto Football Association’s training centre.
Proença’s comments came four days after Ronaldo accepted responsibility for walking out, in a written message. While apologising to fans and team-mates, he argued that his actions should be punished in an exemplary way.
“I believe the punishment should carry no mitigating factors. I’m not just any player, I’m the team captain, and that is an aggravating factor. I’ve already apologised, but I know actions have to have consequences. Anyone in football, as I am, knows that, whatever each person’s status, the rules are the same for everyone,” Ronaldo insisted.
With first place in the group and a quarter-final spot already secured, Portugal are next in action on 14 and 17 November, against Denmark in Braga and Wales in Cardiff, in the last two games of the group stage.
Source: JN
Photo credit: LUSA
