Ronaldo risks sanction while the federation hopes for a November return
41‑year‑old Cristiano Ronaldo faces a heavy sanction after his controversial exit from the Portuguese national team, while chairman Pedro Proença hopes the star will return in November; an independent disciplinary committee still has to decide on his case and the federation wants to look ahead.
President Pedro Proença has made clear that there is a strong will to get the captain back as soon as possible. He said: “There is a great desire to have our captain back quickly.” According to the federation chairman, both national team coach Jorge Jesus and the player group want to work with Ronaldo again.
Disciplinary process and provisional suspension
The final decision on any possible penalty does not lie with Proença, but with an independent disciplinary committee that still has to consider the case. The Portuguese federation has already launched a disciplinary procedure and Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended. According to the rules, leaving a training camp without a valid reason can lead to a heavy sanction, but the exact measure is still unknown.
The row arose during the recent international break. Ronaldo was dissatisfied with his role, sat on the bench during the victory over Norway and was then left out of the squad for the match against Denmark. He subsequently left the training camp in Copenhagen, stating that the trust between him and the national coach had been damaged.
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Shortly thereafter, the striker offered his apologies for his approach and acknowledged that his behaviour could have consequences. He stated that he will accept the decision of the disciplinary committee.
Portugal's objectives and Ronaldo's legacy
Portugal does not want the case to derail; the national team has qualified for the quarter‑finals of the Nations League and aims to defend the title. Despite the controversy, Ronaldo remains an exceptional figure with 234 caps and 146 goals, a record international and the country's top scorer.
The contrast between the threat of a heavy sanction and the hope of a November return highlights the tension between disciplinary strictness and sporting ambition within the Portuguese federation. All parties involved continue to cooperate in the expectation that a swift ruling can stabilise the situation.