Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he will tell the truth in due time, after leaving the Portugal squad without any justification. The regulation, however, has already provided for a very clear sanction, which does not depend on his version. CR7's clash, in open conflict with coach Jorge Jesus, who in the Nations League match with Norway left him on the bench, has activated article 160 of the Portuguese Football Federation: it provides for immediate preliminary suspension for such behavior. In essence, the footballer has already disqualified himself. The disciplinary bodies must now decide whether for 1 month or 6. At the age of 41, the difference lies precisely here: between an exemplary punishment and an end that would deserve completely different tones.
What the regulations say: article 160 of the Portuguese Football Federation
The norm that refers to the kind of “personal rebellion” undertaken by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is article 160 on non-appearance or abandonment of national team activities. Reading the text gives the exact extent of the sanction the player will face.
Any player who, despite being regularly called up, abandons or fails to appear for training, a match or any activity of the national teams or related to the sporting representation of the FPF or Portugal, will be punished with a suspension of one to six months and, in addition, if the player is a professional, with a fine of 5 to 10 UC (approximately 500 to 1,000 euros, or 102 euros per unit of account).
Two details explain the importance of the situation that the player has created in violation of the rules: for professionals, a fine of 5 to 10 units of account, from 500 to 1,000 euros, is also foreseen. The amount is certainly negligible for CR7, but it is the other aspect of the norm that leaves a stain on his career right now that would deserve a celebratory, glorious closure (at least in relation to the national team), as a great and wise man and certainly not as a capricious and selfish champion.
The automatic preliminary suspension does him no favors. The moment you leave, you're already out until the Federal Court makes a decision. And Ronaldo has been putting himself in this situation since last Tuesday. Since, after not being able to stomach being on the bench against the Scandinavians, he practically excluded himself: first by training alone in the gym and then by leaving the group without even greeting his teammates.
Can FIFA also suspend Al Nassr?
No. The FIFA Disciplinary Code, in article 70, provides for the worldwide scope of the sanction only for serious violations such as discrimination or match-fixing. And abandoning the training camp does not fall into this category of aggravating circumstances. It could open a procedure if there was a clear request from the Portuguese Federation (article 136 et seq.), but it is very difficult to foresee such a thing. The only consequence is that, if it does not serve the suspension in the Nations League, according to article 39 (carrying over of suspensions from matches), it carries it over to the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
CR7's legal own goal: he leaves the national team in the worst way
Sad, lonely and the end. Besides being poisoned. This is the trajectory of the champion who slams the door in everyone's face, leaving the blame to others. The issue, however, is both moral and regulatory: CR7 tried to put pressure on coach Jorge Jesus, but clashed with his authority ("I decide who plays", were his words in the conference). And now, if the FPF chooses the minimum sanction (one month), he will only lose the October/November window. If he applies the maximum (6 months), he says goodbye to the entire Nations League and also part of the Euro 2028 qualifiers that start in March 2027.
And considering his age (he will be 42 by then), such a long period away from the national team is a farewell. Painful and controversial, for everyone. And even if he announces that "at the right time I will tell all Portuguese the truth", hinting that he felt betrayed, his image as a great champion contrasts with that of Lionel Messi, who took a step back in Argentina without fanfare, and Luka Modric, who put himself at the service of Croatia.
