Portugal’s Nations League camp has fractured on the road to Denmark, with Cristiano Ronaldo facing the prospect of a lengthy international suspension after leaving the squad base on Wednesday. The 41-year-old captain could be banned for between one and six months and fined under the Portuguese Football Federation’s disciplinary code.
The dispute began after Sunday’s match against Norway, when Ronaldo remained an unused substitute for the first time in 18 years. He went straight down the tunnel at full time rather than joining his team-mates in acknowledging the supporters, then did not take part in training across the following two days.
Portugal’s regulations provide for an automatic provisional suspension in such circumstances. Article 160, paragraph two, sets out that immediate measure while the case is examined, leaving Ronaldo’s availability for future international fixtures in doubt.
A camp meeting and an abrupt departure
On Tuesday night, Ronaldo met national-team coach Jorge Jesus and federation president Pedro Proença in an effort to settle the growing tension. The situation worsened when Jesus said he had been compelled to attend that discussion. Ronaldo subsequently chose to leave the Portugal camp on Wednesday.
Portugal travel to Denmark on Thursday for the third round of Nations League Group A4, a fixture now overshadowed by uncertainty around the country’s defining football figure. Ronaldo has led Portugal to both the European Championship and the Nations League, the latter trophy being defended by the current squad.
The episode has also prompted fresh uncertainty over his international future, including the possibility that he could decide to end his Portugal career. For now, the immediate issue is disciplinary: a federation process that may keep the captain away from the national side for months rather than matches.
