Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Six-Month Ban After Portugal National Team Dispute
Ronaldo could be suspended for up to six months after clashing with Portugal's coach Jorge Jesus and quitting the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo could be hit with a serious sanction by the Portuguese Football Federation after a fallout with national team coach Jorge Jesus and his early departure from the squad camp.
On October 9, the federation temporarily suspended the 41-year-old Al Nassr striker while a disciplinary case against him moves forward, according to Goal.com.
The controversy stems from Ronaldo’s frustration over his playing time during Portugal’s Nations League matches. He was left on the bench against Norway and later quit the national team after learning he wouldn’t start the next game against Denmark either.
Players failing to meet their national team obligations risk a suspension of their competitive rights anywhere from one to six months, as well as potential financial penalties.
The case has been labeled urgent, but no final decision has been announced.
Ronaldo publicly accused Jorge Jesus of breaking promises about his playing time twice, calling what happened a "complete breach of trust."
Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, tried to ease tensions and stressed that everyone involved wants to resolve the conflict.
Now is the time for calm and cool-headedness. We are all sitting together at the table. There is a strong desire for our captain to return to us. There will be a normal disciplinary procedure.
— Pedro Proença
Despite the national team drama, Ronaldo continues to perform well at club level in Saudi Arabia. He recently scored his 980th professional career goal in Al Nassr’s 3-0 win over Al Diriyah.
The Portuguese star is still chasing the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals while awaiting the federation’s final verdict on his future with the national team.
