Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Portugal Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença has expressed his desire to see Cristiano Ronaldo return to the national team, despite the disciplinary proceedings opened against the veteran forward following his departure from Portugal’s squad.
Ronaldo, 41, was provisionally suspended by the FPF after leaving the national team camp ahead of Portugal’s Nations League fixture against Denmark in September. His departure followed a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his expected playing time in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway.
Proença has since made it clear that the federation wants its captain back, although Ronaldo’s disciplinary case remains unresolved.
Speaking in Porto on October 10, the FPF president said there was a collective desire among the federation, coaching staff and the player himself to resolve the situation and have Ronaldo available again.
“The Portuguese Football Federation wants to have our captain back with us as soon as possible,” Proença said, according to Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus Disagree Over Playing Time
The dispute began after Ronaldo was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on September 27. The forward later claimed that Jesus had broken an agreement concerning his role in the match.
Ronaldo said he had expected to feature for around 30 minutes but was not brought on despite warming up during the game. He described the situation as a breach of trust.
Jesus, meanwhile, has maintained that decisions about team selection and substitutions fall under the coach’s authority. The disagreement escalated when Ronaldo left the squad’s camp in Copenhagen ahead of the subsequent match against Denmark.
Ronaldo later apologised for leaving his teammates and failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match. He also said he remained available to represent Portugal and would accept any punishment imposed by the federation.
FPF Opens Disciplinary Proceedings
On October 10, the FPF confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against Ronaldo and that a non-automatic provisional suspension had been imposed while the matter was investigated.
The case was classified as urgent, but the federation did not announce a final punishment. Reports have suggested that Ronaldo could face a suspension and a fine, although the outcome remains unconfirmed.
Proença has urged calm while the process continues, stressing the federation’s desire to have Ronaldo return to the squad.
His comments indicate that the FPF is seeking a resolution, but they do not override the disciplinary process or guarantee that Ronaldo will be available for the next international fixtures.
Could Ronaldo Miss Portugal’s Next Matches?
Portugal are expected to face Denmark and Wales in the next Nations League international window. Ronaldo’s availability will depend on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings and any suspension ultimately imposed.
The uncertainty comes at a sensitive point for Portugal, with Ronaldo continuing to play a prominent role in the national team despite being in the later stages of his international career.
The forward remains Portugal’s captain and one of the most influential figures in the country’s football history. His future involvement will depend on the federation’s disciplinary decision and the resolution of his dispute with Jesus.
For now, Proença’s public support signals that Portugal’s football leadership wants to find a way forward. However, whether Ronaldo returns for the next fixtures will only become clear once the disciplinary process has progressed.
Follow the African360 Sports channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDrVn8HrDZe4uoLW42r
