Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after leaving Portugal’s national team camp amid a dispute over his playing time, with disciplinary proceedings now underway to determine the consequences of his actions.
The federation initiated proceedings against the 41-year-old captain on October 9, 2026, following his departure from the squad ahead of Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark. The case has been classified as urgent and referred to the federation’s disciplinary investigation committee.
The incident followed Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on September 27, during which Ronaldo remained an unused substitute despite warming up on the sidelines.
Ronaldo subsequently accused head coach Jorge Jesus of going back on an agreement concerning his playing time. He said he had been told he would feature for about 30 minutes but was ultimately not brought onto the pitch.
The forward left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30 ahead of the Denmark fixture, prompting questions about his relationship with the coaching staff and his future with the national team.
In a lengthy statement issued earlier this week, Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and supporters for leaving the camp and failing to acknowledge fans after the Norway match.
He accepted responsibility for his conduct and said he was prepared to serve any punishment imposed by the federation, while maintaining that his departure followed a breakdown of trust between himself and the coach.
The suspension is provisional, meaning the disciplinary process has not yet concluded. The federation has said details of the proceedings will remain confidential until the investigation is completed.
FPF president Pedro Proença has indicated that the federation, the coach and the players want Ronaldo to return to the national team once the matter is resolved. However, any final disciplinary decision rests with the federation’s independent disciplinary committee.
Ronaldo has since returned to his Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, where he scored in a 3-0 victory over Diriyah on Friday, October 9.
The length and terms of any further sanction remain subject to the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.