The Portuguese Football Federation has officially initiated disciplinary proceedings against national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The decision follows the 41-year-old striker's decision to walk out of the team's training camp during the most recent international break, an act that has prompted an investigation by the federation’s Non-Professional Section.
The tension reportedly stemmed from a miscommunication with head coach Jorge Jesus. According to a letter released this week, Ronaldo stated that he had been informed he would serve as a substitute during a Nations League match against Norway. Despite warming up on the sideline, the forward did not receive any playing time. Before the subsequent match against Denmark, Ronaldo notified the federation of his intention to leave the camp and departed shortly thereafter.
Addressing the controversy, Ronaldo acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate, regardless of his grievances with the coaching staff. “I owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp,” he said, noting that while he felt the head coach had “broken his word” on multiple occasions, he accepted full responsibility for his departure. He further added that, as the team captain, his actions should be viewed with an “aggravating factor” and stated that he is open to the consequences imposed by the federation’s regulations, which may include a suspension lasting between one and six months.
Following his exit, Ronaldo returned to his club, Al Nassr, where he featured in a 3-0 victory against Diriyah on Friday, finding the back of the net. Having earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals for his country, the veteran striker maintains his desire to continue representing Portugal in the future. The national team is scheduled to face Denmark and Wales in the upcoming round of the Nations League next month, while the federation continues to assess the formal disciplinary action against its captain.
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