Cristiano Ronaldo has been fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation for leaving the national team camp without proper justification. This decision was made by the federation’s Disciplinary Council, which also imposed a 30-day suspension that has been backdated. The ruling has raised questions regarding the leniency of the punishment given Ronaldo’s stature as a prominent player.

The fine was determined under Article 160(1) of the federation’s disciplinary regulations, which addresses players who abandon national duties. The council found that Ronaldo had intentionally left the camp during the October international break amid a dispute concerning his playing time under coach Jesus. The council deemed the punishment as “adequate and sufficient” following a provisional suspension.

Ronaldo accepted responsibility for his actions, publicly apologising and stating his willingness to accept any sanctions imposed. He has also expressed his desire to continue representing Portugal in international competitions. The disciplinary council noted that Ronaldo had formally admitted to the facts surrounding the charge in a statement submitted on October 16.

Fine Based on Regulatory Framework

The €255 fine was not calculated based on Ronaldo’s salary or wealth, as the federation’s regulations employ a fixed legal measure known as a Unit of Account (UC), valued at €102. According to Article 160(1), the standard penalty for such an offence ranges from five to ten UC, translating to €510 to €1,020.

However, mitigating circumstances were taken into account, including Ronaldo’s clean disciplinary record and his public apology. These factors allowed the disciplinary council to reduce the applicable financial penalty range to between 1.25 and 2.5 UC, setting the maximum fine at €255. The council opted for the upper limit of this range, which is why the fine was established at this specific amount.

Thus, the fine reflects the maximum permissible under the reduced legal limits rather than a decision to be lenient towards Ronaldo. The suspension, set at 30 days, was also influenced by these mitigating factors. Although the financial penalty appears minimal in comparison to Ronaldo’s earnings, it was consistent with the federation’s regulations. The backdating of the suspension means that much of the penalty period elapsed before Portugal’s next scheduled international match.

Impact on Ronaldo’s Int’l Participation

The 30-day suspension imposed on Ronaldo was backdated to begin around the time he left the camp, which means he had already served a significant portion of the suspension by the time the ruling was announced. This timing is crucial, as it allows him to potentially participate in Portugal’s next Nations League match against Denmark on November 14.

According to reports, the suspension began on October 1, coinciding with Portugal’s match against Denmark. By the time the punishment was made public, Ronaldo had already completed 19 days of the suspension, leaving him eligible for selection for the upcoming match if he chooses to rejoin the national squad.

Pedro Proença, the president of Portugal’s football federation, has acknowledged Ronaldo’s importance to the team and expressed confidence that the player would resolve his issues with coach Jesus and return to the squad. The fine, while seemingly small in light of Ronaldo’s considerable wealth, is firmly grounded in the federation’s disciplinary framework.

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