Cristiano Ronaldo Faces a Fine, but the Amount Is Causing a Stir: A Flood of Incredulous Comments
It’s not so much the penalty imposed on Cristiano Ronaldo that’s causing a stir, but rather the amount of the fine. The Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Council has, in fact, punished the Al Nassr star with a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros for leaving the national team’s training camp without authorization prior to the Nations League match against Denmark on October 1.
Especially when it comes to the financial aspect, the decision immediately sparked mockery from fans on social media. Many pointed out that the amount is even less than symbolic for a champion who, according to Forbes estimates, has a net worth exceeding one billion euros.
The news, therefore, generated dozens of amused and sarcastic comments. “255 euros is the tip Cristiano Ronaldo gives the ice cream vendor down the street,” wrote one user on Instagram. “It’s practically like asking me for two cents,” joked another. The 30-day suspension also came under fire: “Not only is the fine ridiculous, but it’s also a zero-game suspension—where exactly is the punishment?”
There was no shortage of even more scathing comments. “I would have skipped the press release—they’re just making fools of themselves,” reads one of the most widely shared reactions. “A single strand of CR7’s hair is worth more than the fine they slapped on him.” Another fan commented: “At times, Cristiano loses more money just tying his shoes,” while others joked about a fairly common practice these days: “I hope he has the app to pay it off in three monthly installments—I wouldn’t want it to be too much of a financial burden.”
Jokes aside, several users pointed out that penalties of this kind risk appearing anachronistic and, above all, ineffective when applied to athletes who earn hundreds of millions every year. For many, it would be more effective, on the one hand, to link the amount of the fines to the athletes’ salaries or net worth, and, on the other hand, to punish the player with a suspension for a specific number of official matches.
The sporting reality remains, however: the suspension begins on September 30 and will end before Portugal’s next matches; Cristiano Ronaldo will therefore be eligible to play in the Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales. The final decision will now rest with head coach Jorge Jesus, who must decide whether to mend the rift and recall his star player for the final group stage matches, or to continue the approach taken in recent games—which have, in any case, seen Portugal emerge victorious every time.
