THE Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo informed the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, by telephone, that he did not have “the mental conditions” to remain in the Portuguese team, according to the Disciplinary Council ruling released today.
On September 30, the 41-year-old captain of the ‘quinas’ team and striker for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr left the training camp for the Portuguese team, which was preparing for the Nations League Group A4 games against Denmark and Norway, after the triumphs against Wales (1-0) and the Norwegian team (2-1).
Ronaldo was a starter against Wales and an unused substitute in the visit to Norway, in which he was warming up for much of the second half. After this meeting, in Oslo, he left the pitch apparently dissatisfied, without joining his teammates in thanking the Portuguese fans.
Following Jesus’ press conference ahead of the game against Denmark, Ronaldo even left the ‘quinas’ team’s training camp, later claiming, in a written message, that the coach failed to speak to him more than once.
In the factual basis of the judgment of the non-professional section of the CD on the disciplinary process that the player was subject to, in the proven data, it is revealed that Ronaldo left the Parken Stadium, in Copenhagen, having missed training, as well as the remaining activities of the Portuguese team scheduled for the training camp.
“The defendant did not communicate or justify in advance, to the person responsible for the FPF or the men’s national team, his intention to leave the stadium and the training camp. After leaving the stadium, the defendant Cristiano Ronaldo expressly communicated to the president of the FPF, by telephone, his decision not to remain part of the national team training camp, expressing his intention to abandon the team’s work”, he states.
The document adds that during the telephone conversation between Ronaldo and Pedro Proença, the captain of the Portuguese team revealed that “he was not in a mental state to continue participating in the internship”.
The ruling then lists all the team’s activities, from meals, to lectures, training and games, which Ronaldo missed since he decided to leave on his own initiative, on September 30th, until October 4th, the date of the last game in this window of four matches that Portugal played.
It is also mentioned that Cristiano Ronaldo, when leaving the internship, acted “freely, consciously and voluntarily”, and that even though he was aware that his behavior was “prohibited and sanctioned”, he did not refrain from committing it.
The document then considers that the reasons given for leaving the selection, either to the FPF president or later publicly, cannot be considered a valid justification.
Ronaldo was suspended today for 30 days and fined 255 euros for abandoning the Portuguese national team’s training camp, with only 11 remaining to be served, after 19 spent with preventative suspension.
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, is the record holder for games (234) and goals for the Portuguese national team (146), having captained the ‘quinas’ team to triumphs in the 2016 European Championship and in the 2019 and 2025 editions of the League of Nations.
With victory in the group and presence in the quarter-finals already assured, the Portuguese team will play again on November 14th and 17th, against Denmark, in Braga, and Wales, in Cardiff, in the last two games of the group, with Ronaldo now available, since after deducting the 19 days already completed, he only has 11 left to complete.
After this incident, the president of the FPF assured, on October 10th, that all parties want Ronaldo in the team in November, making his return dependent on the punishment known today.
This statement from Proença came four days after Ronaldo took responsibility, in a written message, for abandoning the team’s training camp, in which, despite apologizing to his fans and teammates, he argued that his act should be punished in an exemplary manner.
