Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and a €255 (£215) fine by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team camp following a reported disagreement over his role in the side.
The Portuguese FA’s disciplinary council upheld the charge against the 41-year-old forward, ruling that he had deliberately breached Article 160(1) of the federation’s disciplinary regulations.
Disciplinary proceedings were initiated on October 9 over an incident reported two days earlier. However, the federation’s statement did not clarify which matches or activities would be affected by the suspension, or whether any time served under a provisional ban would be deducted from the final punishment.
Ronaldo’s Dispute With Coach
Ronaldo reportedly left Portugal’s base in Copenhagen ahead of the Nations League fixture against Denmark after a disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team.
The dispute followed Portugal’s match against Norway, in which the veteran forward was an unused substitute. Ronaldo reportedly accused Jesus of going back on his word twice regarding his involvement in the side.
Jesus denied reaching any such agreement with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star. However, following Portugal’s 2-1 victory, the coach indicated that Ronaldo could return to the national team once the matter was resolved.
Ronaldo later apologised for failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates. He also made himself available for future selection, saying he was prepared to accept any punishment arising from the incident.
Portuguese FA president Pedro Proença has also expressed the federation’s desire to see Ronaldo return to the national team after the disciplinary issue is settled.
The suspension comes amid continued attention on the future of the Portugal captain, whose standing and role in the team remain major talking points as he continues his international career.
FIFA Suspends Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan
In a separate disciplinary development, FIFA has suspended Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan for three matches following his criticism of the referee after Egypt’s 3-2 defeat against Argentina at the World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Monday that Hassan’s twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, who serves as the national team director, had also received a three-match suspension.
Egyptian forward Mostafa Ziko was handed a five-match ban for insulting the referee during a post-match interview.
The sanctions followed Egypt’s elimination from the tournament in the last 16. Hossam Hassan had blamed refereeing decisions for his team’s exit, while Ziko’s comments after the match resulted in a separate disciplinary action.
In its statement, the EFA confirmed the respective suspensions of Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan and Ziko.
The disciplinary decisions highlight the consequences that players and team officials can face for conduct involving national team duties, public criticism of match officials and breaches of football regulations.
