Portugal suspends Ronaldo over camp walkout

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to face disciplinary proceedings after leaving the Portugal national team’s training camp following his failure to feature in one of its matches.

According to a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the national team captain has also been handed a non-automatic preventive suspension from the team until a disciplinary decision is reached.

Ronaldo was left on the bench by Jorge Jesus, Portugal head coach, as the team defeated Norway 2-1 in a UEFA Nations League match on September 27.

An unhappy Ronaldo left the team three days later in protest of unfulfilled promises.

Portugal went on to win two more matches in his absence, and the 41-year-old Al Nassr forward offered a lengthy apology to the nation, claiming he is ready for any punishment handed down by the FPF.

According to the FPF, disciplinary proceedings have commenced against the captain, who led Portugal to its three trophies in the nation’s history, for breaching the non-professional section of its disciplinary regulations.

It added that Ronaldo has been placed on a “non-automatic preventive suspension” while the disciplinary instruction committee treats the proceeding as urgent.

“Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, by decision of the Non-Professional Section, on October 9, 2026, with the objective of ascertaining the potential disciplinary relevance of the facts reported on October 7, 2026,” the statement reads.

“Without prejudice to the automatic preventive suspension to which he was subject until the date of initiation, a non-automatic preventive suspension of the player was determined, and the proceedings were given urgent status.

“The proceedings were sent, on October 10, 2026, to the Disciplinary Instruction Committee of the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation), with publicity excluded until the end of the investigation.”

Ronaldo is facing his second major bust-up with the national team in his international career. He was benched by coach Fernando Santos at the 2022 Qatar World Cup for his angry reaction to being substituted in a group match against South Korea.