Ronaldo Says Jorge Jesus Broke His Word Twice as Portugal Weighs Suspension
Captain apologises for leaving camp and asks to be sanctioned, while the coach denies any agreement and the federation calls the row a misunderstanding
Ronaldo accuses Jorge Jesus of breaking his word twice in a lengthy statement. The Portugal captain has also said he is not retiring from international football and that he deserves to be punished for walking out on the squad. As of now, the Portuguese Football Federation has not announced any suspension or disciplinary sanction.
Sky Sports reported that the Ronaldo statement ran to nearly 2,000 words and was posted to his 679 million Instagram followers.
Why Ronaldo Accuses Jorge Jesus of Broken Promises
Ronaldo accused Jesus of twice breaking promises, first about playing him against Norway and then about explaining that decision at a press conference days later. Sky Sports reported that Ronaldo says Jesus told him on match day that he would play 30 minutes. Ronaldo said he warmed up from halftime onwards and was never called on.
According to Reuters, Ronaldo said a later meeting with Jesus, attended by Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference. Sky Sports published eight points Ronaldo says Jesus agreed to make. The notes would not have required Jesus to apologise, only to acknowledge that Ronaldo never demanded minutes and that the warm up without playing him was a mistake.
Ronaldo said what the coach told reporters differed from that private discussion. “It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” he said.
Ronaldo Apologises and Rules Out Retirement
Ronaldo did not place all the blame on Jesus. ESPN reported that he also acknowledged he had let people down over the past week and apologised to his team mates. He said his status as captain should not protect him from punishment.
He said he will continue to be available to represent Portugal. He had considered retiring after this summer’s World Cup, where Portugal exited in the last 16, but was persuaded to continue by federation president Pedro Proenca.
Jorge Jesus Denies Any Agreement
Jesus on the other hand denied on Sunday, after the win over Norway, that he had made any agreement with the player, though he left the door open for a return. “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team,” Jesus said.
After the statement was published, Jesus told Portuguese channel CMTV that he planned to read it and had nothing else to say. Earlier in the dispute he took a firmer line. Sports Illustrated reported that he told reporters, “I’m the coach. No player will ever make a decision for me.”
Portugal Football Federation Response
Before Ronaldo’s statement appeared, Proenca sought to calm the situation. He called the matter a misunderstanding to be resolved internally and said there was now time to sit down together. The Evening Standard reported that he also said Ronaldo will always remain part of the group whenever he is fit and ready.
How the Ronaldo and Jesus Row Developed
Ronaldo started Portugal’s opening Nations League win over Wales, but Jesus kept him as an unused substitute in a 2 to 1 win in Oslo on September 27, which sparked the public fallout. The Guardian reported that Ronaldo left the pitch after the final whistle without joining team mates in saluting the fans, and that he reportedly viewed the episode as a humiliation.
Ronaldo left camp in Copenhagen after a press conference with Jesus and a meeting with Proenca on September 30. Portugal beat Denmark 4 to 2 without him and won all four of their Nations League games in the international window.
Will Ronaldo Be Suspended by Portugal?
Goal, citing ESPN, reported that federation regulations call for a suspension of one to six months and a fine of 500 to 1,000 euros for a player who abandons national team activity without justification. Yahoo Sports noted that six months is a maximum rather than a confirmed punishment, and that the key question is whether his departure is deemed justified.
What Happens Next for Ronaldo and Portugal
The federation must decide whether to sanction its captain and all time leading scorer, who has scored a record 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. Jesus has not publicly responded to the specific claims. The Guardian wrote that the row has divided opinion in Portugal and left a great international career at risk of ending in acrimony.
Tamrah News English will update this report as developments emerge after Ronaldo accuses Jorge Jesus and awaits the federation’s decision.
– Tamrah News