Portuguese Football Federation opens disciplinary investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Saturday that it had opened a disciplinary investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the national team and a star in its attack. The move follows Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s camp on September 30.

In its statement, the Federation said the player had been automatically suspended before the investigation began. It also said that, “given the urgent nature of the investigation”, Ronaldo, aged 41, “will be temporarily suspended” while a decision on the case is pending. The body added that “no further statement will be issued before the end of the investigation”.

The case comes after recent disagreements between Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus, his coach with the Portugal team. Ronaldo accused Jesus of speaking to him in an authoritarian tone and of having “failed to keep his promise” on two occasions. First, he objected to not being played against Norway; he then said Jesus had not followed a series of remarks agreed in advance to bring the controversy to an end at a press conference.

The disciplinary investigation is now under way, with the Federation saying it will make no further statement until it is concluded.