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The Portuguese Football Federation has punished Cristiano Ronaldo for sending him off the team and disciplinary proceedings against the player have started.
The federation said in a statement on Saturday that the case had been referred to its disciplinary-investigative committee and that its findings would remain confidential until the final outcome.
41-year-old Ronaldo left the national team’s camp in the international window after arguing with new head coach Jorge Jesus about the lack of playing time.
Ronaldo was either an unused substitute or not, Portugal won all three and his substitute Goncalo Ramos seized the opportunity with three goals.
Ronaldo ended the international break with a lengthy post to his 679 million Instagram followers, in which he asked the Portuguese coach to admit he was wrong to ask them to warm up outside and then not send them on the pitch against Norway. Jesus did not admit any wrongdoing.
The star wrote that he expected to be suspended in accordance with the federation’s rules, but promised fans that “we will have one or more farewell matches.”
Ronaldo could face heavy punishment for skipping training camp. According to the federation’s disciplinary rules, any player who unreasonably “leaves or does not appear” in national team training, games or activities “shall be punished with a one- to six-month disqualification” in addition to a fine.
Ronaldo said he went to the federation, but it was not clear whether the decision would be justified according to the regulations.
“I have already apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences. Everyone in football, like me, knows that the rules are the same for everyone, regardless of the status of each person,” Ronaldo said in a statement this week.