Ronaldo faces suspension of up to six months after storming out of Portugal camp

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a ban of up to six months after the Portuguese Football Federation automatically triggered a suspension following his walkout from the national team camp during the Nations League break.

The 39-year-old left camp after a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus over the amount of minutes he was given during the international fixtures. Portuguese FA rules mean a suspension is applied automatically in such cases, with a disciplinary council now tasked with determining the precise length of the ban — anywhere between one and six months.

A ban exceeding one month would rule Ronaldo out of Portugal’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales. Reports suggest a shorter ban is considered the more likely outcome, with the council expected to weigh Ronaldo’s public apology as part of its deliberations.

In a lengthy statement issued on Tuesday, Ronaldo accepted full responsibility for his departure and explicitly called for punishment. “I also owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp,” he wrote. “Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as those who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine.”

Ronaldo also acknowledged that his status as captain made the offence more serious, not less. “I am not just any player; I am team captain, and that constitutes an aggravating factor. I have already apologised, but I know that attitudes must have consequences. Anyone who is in football as I am knows that, regardless of each person’s status, the rules are the same for everyone.”

Jesus offered a brief response to the statement, saying: “I read the statement and now I do, like I do every day. I’m going to the federation to work, think about the team.”

Ronaldo has made 234 appearances for Portugal since his debut in 2004, scoring a record 146 international goals. The disciplinary council’s decision will determine whether he is available for the next phase of Portugal’s Nations League campaign.