The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) convenes its Disciplinary Committee on Friday to decide how to sanction Cristiano Ronaldo for leaving the national team camp. The Al Nassr forward is already serving an automatic preventive suspension while the case is processed.

Under Article 160 of the FPF Disciplinary Regulations, a player who leaves national team duty without justification faces a ban of between one and six months, plus a fine of €510 to €1,020 for professional players, according to the regulation.

Article 244 could change the math. A full, unreserved admission of guilt allows the committee to halve the sanction, which would reduce the minimum ban from one month to roughly 15 days. Ronaldo’s statement reads as an attempt to trigger exactly that provision.

Portuguese lawyer Gonçalo Almeida told A Bola that Ronaldo “is already suspended regarding participation or representation of the national team” while the case is heard, and that any time served under that automatic suspension counts toward the final penalty.

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‘The consequence must be punished’

Ronaldo posted a near-2,000-word statement to Instagram earlier this week, apologising to his team-mates and to Portuguese supporters for leaving the camp.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he wrote, in a passage reported by Al Jazeera.

He also signalled his intent to return as soon as any ban is served.

“If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team.”

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Jesus accused of breaking his word twice

The apology was wrapped around a detailed indictment of Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo wrote that the two men had privately agreed he would come off the bench for 30 minutes against Norway, an understanding Jesus allegedly broke by leaving him unused.

A second alleged agreement, that Jesus would publicly clarify the misunderstanding at a press conference, was also broken, the Portugal captain said. He left the camp before Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark.

Jesus has not responded publicly to the specific accusations.

What the sanction range means

Even a one-month ban before any Article 244 reduction would leave Ronaldo available for Portugal’s November Nations League window. A three-month ban would rule him out of those fixtures. A six-month suspension, the maximum under Article 160, is understood to be unlikely given the mitigating factors in play.

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The committee’s ruling is expected swiftly after Friday’s hearing.

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