Ronaldo Faces Portugal Ban After Leaving Denmark Camp
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp in Denmark and now faces the possibility of a suspension lasting up to six months, with the Portuguese Football Federation considering disciplinary action over his unauthorised departure.
The veteran forward walked out on Wednesday after a heated confrontation with head coach Jorge Jesus, then held discussions with FPF president Pedro Proenca. Ronaldo had already missed Tuesday’s training session in Sweden and did not take part in Wednesday’s workout at Parken Stadium, ensuring he would not be included in Portugal’s squad for Thursday’s Nations League match against Denmark in Copenhagen.
An FPF training update confirmed that Joao Felix had returned to the group, while Francisco Conceicao was unavailable for Thursday’s game and Ronaldo also did not train. Conceicao has been ruled out of the fixture.
Ronaldo at risk of lengthy ban
Portugal’s disciplinary code allows for a one-to-six-month suspension when a player leaves, or fails to report for, national-team training, matches or other federation duties without a valid reason. A professional player can also be fined between €500 and €1,000.
The row followed Portugal’s match against Norway, when Ronaldo remained on the bench throughout. Jesus then made clear before the Denmark tie that selection decisions would not be dictated by any player’s profile or standing.
The Portugal manager said he had told the forward he would not start, adding that Ronaldo could be used for 30 minutes if required but would otherwise remain among the substitutes. Jesus insisted that no player, president or other figure in football would alter his decision.
Ronaldo subsequently boycotted Wednesday’s session before leaving the camp, deepening a dispute that has become an immediate test of Jesus’s authority. Portugal now face Denmark away on Thursday before hosting Norway on Sunday, without their all-time leading scorer.
The next decision rests with the FPF, which must determine whether to enforce the potential six-month sanction and financial penalty against its long-serving captain and talisman.
