Cristiano Ronaldo asked for punishment 'without mitigation', then fought to cut it

Ronaldo received a 30-day suspension and €255 fine for leaving Portugal's training camp, after initially claiming he deserved punishment without mitigation but then arguing for leniency.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and €255 fine by the Portuguese Football Federation for walking out of a training camp in Denmark last month. Despite initially stating on social media that he should be punished "without mitigating circumstances" and that his captain's role was an aggravating factor, the 41-year-old presented three arguments during the disciplinary inquiry to reduce his sanction: his clean recent disciplinary record, his services to football, and his contribution to establishing the facts. The inquiry halved his punishment twice from its original severity.