Ronaldo appeals to federation for penalty reduction
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has requested a reduction in the penalty imposed on him for leaving the national team camp without permission.
Operativ Media reports, citing Record, that the 41-year-old footballer appealed to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), citing three mitigating factors: his significant services to football, recognition for his sporting achievements, and his decisive contribution to establishing the truth.
To substantiate his arguments, Ronaldo highlighted his record numbers of appearances (234) and goals (146) for Portugal, the fact that he was the youngest captain in the national team's history, his selection as Portuguese player of the century in 2015, and his state honors.
While the disciplinary body accepted the first two arguments, it rejected the third, stating that because the details of the infraction were already public knowledge, the player's assistance was not needed to investigate the matter.
The FPF fined Ronaldo €255 and handed him a one-month suspension. The player has already served 19 days of the ban, leaving 11 days remaining. The suspension is set to end on October 30.
As a result, Ronaldo will be eligible for selection for the national team's Nations League matches against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17.
Ronaldo left the Portuguese national team camp in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 30. He departed the squad the day before the Nations League match against Denmark without informing head coach Jorge Jesus or federation officials.
Explaining his decision on October 6, the forward said the head coach had failed to keep his word. According to the Al-Nassr player, Jesus had promised to give him 30 minutes of playing time in the match against Norway (2-1), but did not do so.
