Ronaldo Gets 30-Day Portugal Suspension and a Fine Paid in Seconds

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros by the Portuguese Football Federation for walking out of Portugal’s camp last month.
Sky Sports News understands the suspension runs from 30 September, the day he left, so he is free to play Portugal’s Nations League games against Denmark on 14 November and Wales on 17 November.
Ronaldo asked to be punished and wrote that “the rules are the same for everyone”.

A Punishment Ronaldo Asked For Costs Him No Matches

The Portuguese Football Federation has punished Cristiano Ronaldo for walking out on the national team, and the sentence leaves him free to play in November. The federation’s disciplinary council upheld the charge against the 41-year-old in full on Monday, imposing a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros.

Ronaldo had been provisionally suspended on 9 October. The BBC reports it is not clear which matches or activities the new suspension covers, or whether the time he has already served counts against the 30 days. Sky Sports News offers an answer: it understands the ban is enforced from the date he left the camp in Denmark, 30 September. The disciplinary council did not specify a start date.

The Fine Takes Seconds to Pay

Sky Sports set the size of the fine against Ronaldo’s pay. It reports that Ronaldo, who is reported to earn £488,000 a day at Al Nassr, could settle the fine in 39 seconds on his estimated wages. Sky also cites Forbes estimates that his football earnings for 2026 will reach £225m.

Ronaldo never asked for leniency. He posted a lengthy letter explaining why he left the camp and asked the federation to punish him. Sky says he wanted to be spared any softer treatment.

How the Walkout Started

Ronaldo left Portugal’s Nations League squad in September after he was an unused substitute against Norway and then learned he would not start against Denmark. The Associated Press reports that he was involved only in the opening game, a 1-0 win over Wales, when Gonçalo Ramos replaced him. In the three games Ronaldo was either an unused substitute or absent, Ramos scored three goals.

In his statement, Ronaldo said head coach Jorge Jesus twice “broke his word” and accused him of an “absolute breach of trust”. According to the AP, he asked Jesus to acknowledge a mistake in asking him to warm up on the sidelines in Oslo and then not sending him on. Jesus did not acknowledge any mistake and denied making any agreement with Ronaldo.

What the Rules Said

The federation’s disciplinary regulations say any player who “abandons or fails to appear” without justification at a training session, match or activity of the national teams “shall be sanctioned with a suspension of one to six months”, plus a fine, the AP reports. Ronaldo did tell the federation he was leaving, though the AP said at the time it was not clear whether that would count as justified under the rules.

Ronaldo accepted accountability and apologised to his teammates and the fans. “I have already apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences,” he wrote. He added: “Anyone in football as I am knows that, regardless of each person’s status, the rules are the same for everyone.”

A Door Left Open

President Pedro Proença told the Portuguese outlet Record there is a “strong desire” to have Ronaldo back with the national team once the issue is resolved. Jesus denied any agreement but left the door open for a return after Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway.

Ronaldo had told his 679 million Instagram followers to expect “one or more farewell matches”. Portugal’s next fixtures are Denmark on 14 November and Wales on 17 November, and the ruling means Jesus can pick him for both.

Ronaldo is Portugal’s captain and holds the men’s world records for appearances and goals, with 146 goals in 234 games for his country. He won Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles with Portugal. Whether he plays again before the farewell he promised is now up to Jesus.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.