Cristiano Ronaldo Cleared for Portugal’s November Nations League Matches

Cristiano Ronaldo is eligible for Portugal’s November UEFA Nations League matches after a 30-day suspension for leaving the national squad was backdated to September 30. The Portuguese Football Federation also imposed a €255 fine following the forward’s departure during the September international window.

Key takeaways

• Ronaldo was found guilty of a deliberate disciplinary breach under Article 160(1) of the federation’s regulations.
• The punishment consists of a 30-day ban and a financial penalty of 2.5 units, set at €255.
• He left camp after Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway, having remained an unused substitute.
• Jorge Jesus had asked Ronaldo to warm up before deciding not to use him in that match.
• Portugal face Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17 in the Nations League.

Disciplinary ruling follows September departure

The federation’s Disciplinary Council, Non-Professional Section, upheld the charge against Ronaldo in full, ruling that he had intentionally committed the offence on one occasion. Its decision named Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro and applied the sanction set out in Article 160(1) of the RDFPF disciplinary code.

Ronaldo’s exit came in the aftermath of an uncomfortable 2-1 victory against Norway. He had been left on the bench throughout the match despite being sent to warm up by head coach Jorge Jesus.

The forward has accepted that he was wrong to leave the group and that disciplinary action was warranted. However, there remains reported tension between Ronaldo and Jesus, who also worked together at Al-Nassr last season.

Fine dwarfed by Al-Nassr earnings

While the suspension has effectively already been served, the scale of the fine has attracted attention. The €255 penalty is equivalent to around £215, a modest sum beside Ronaldo’s reported Al-Nassr salary of £488,000 per day. At that rate, the fine represents roughly 38 seconds of earnings.

Portugal’s forthcoming fixtures will now put the focus back on Ronaldo’s place in the squad. With no remaining suspension to serve, he can be selected for the Nations League meetings with Denmark on November 14 and Wales three days later. Jesus must decide whether to bring the veteran forward back into the international group following the September incident.