According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Ronaldo's unauthorized departure from the Portuguese national team's training camp on September 30 has automatically triggered a provisional suspension under the disciplinary regulations of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). He is currently suspended from representing the national team. Lawyer Gonçalo Almeida provided a detailed explanation of the subsequent disciplinary procedures, potential sanctions, and mitigating factors.

Gonçalo Almeida, the lawyer consulted by A Bola, cited Article 160 of the FPF's Disciplinary Regulations to explain the process following the incident involving the 41-year-old forward in Denmark. This article stipulates that "a player regularly called up who, without justified cause, arbitrarily abandons or fails to attend training sessions, matches, or national team activities, or activities related to the FPF and Portuguese sports representation, shall be sanctioned with a suspension of 1 to 6 months, and for professional players, also a fine of 5 to 10 account units (€510 to €1,020)".

"I see no possibility that he won't be sanctioned," he said. While the first paragraph of the article makes the application of sanctions "mandatory," the second paragraph establishes that "unauthorized absence or abandonment will result in an automatic provisional suspension for the player." Gonçalo Almeida, who is also a judge at the FIFA Football Court, explained that this means Ronaldo "is already suspended from representing or playing for the national team".

"Subsequently, the FPF's Disciplinary Committee must initiate proceedings, and based on the principle of contradiction, Ronaldo will be notified to present his defense, and then we'll have a decision that I believe will be quite swift," he explained, confirming that the national team captain can call witnesses. Gonçalo Almeida explained that the FPF's Disciplinary Committee "doesn't need a formal complaint to act" because "the facts are public".

Ronaldo announced his departure from the national team's training camp on social media on September 30, on the eve of the away match against Denmark, and explained this decision through a statement on Tuesday. This public acknowledgment should work in favor of the national team captain.

This involves Article 244 of the FPF's Disciplinary Regulations, which stipulates that "the accused party may at any time admit the facts alleged in the proceedings," and that "if the admission is made completely and without reservation, and its credibility is undeniable, no further evidentiary proceedings will be conducted, and the minimum and maximum limits of the applicable sanction shall be reduced by half." Gonçalo Almeida emphasized that the Portuguese forward, in his statement on the matter, "completely and unconditionally admitted his unauthorized departure".

Therefore, "if the Disciplinary Committee deems it appropriate," the sanction will be halved. In the "best-case scenario" for the national team captain, a minimum sanction of one month and €510 would be reduced to a 15-day suspension and a €255 fine.

Portugal will face Denmark again in Braga on November 14, and three days later will play an away match against Wales. Considering that the automatic suspension period will be deducted from any sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee, Ronaldo could be eligible to return for the next international window.

However, this still depends on the timeline for the Disciplinary Committee's decision. "If Ronaldo's return becomes a reality, neither the Disciplinary Committee nor the FPF would want him suspended for an extended period," he reiterated.

Nevertheless, Gonçalo Almeida is "absolutely convinced" that "the speed at which this case will be handled will be record-breaking".

In his Tuesday statement, Ronaldo reiterated his full willingness to accept a suspension period. "I understand there should be no mitigating circumstances for a sanction. I am not just any player; I am the captain, and that constitutes an aggravating factor. I have apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences," he emphasized.

Gonçalo Almeida acknowledged Ronaldo's captaincy as an "aggravating factor," but emphasized that he has "no disciplinary record in this regard" and has "given everything for the national team" for over 20 years. According to the first paragraph of Article 44 of the FPF's Disciplinary Regulations, "having no disciplinary record" in the current season and the three previous seasons registered with the FPF, "rendering significant services to football," and "being recognized for sporting merit" are considered mitigating circumstances.

For Gonçalo Almeida, the absence of "clear jurisprudence" favors an "individual analysis of the case." Therefore, he downplayed the one-year ban from all national team-related activities imposed on Ricardo Carvalho in 2011 after he abandoned the national team's training camp.

Consequently, the lawyer believes the Disciplinary Committee will "certainly not ignore these precedents" and will not be "indifferent to all of this commotion".

Traducido por IA.

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