The Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee has announced its punishment for Cristiano Ronaldo: a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine for leaving the national team’s training camp without authorization. Portuguese newspaper A Bola noted that the punishment was significantly lighter than the one imposed on Ricardo Carvalho, who received a one-year suspension for a similar incident in 2011.

In Portugal’s national team history, Ricardo Carvalho’s case is considered the closest precedent to Ronaldo’s current situation. In August 2011, on the eve of a match against Cyprus, Carvalho left Portugal’s training camp without permission after believing he would not be selected in the starting lineup for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

At the time, the Portuguese Football Federation handed Carvalho a one-year suspension from the national team, having initially considered an even harsher 24-month ban. The federation ultimately reduced the punishment in recognition of the player’s previous professional contributions.

In its statement at the time, the federation said: “In consideration of the player’s professional contributions, the FPF leadership has decided to impose a one-year suspension from the national team on Ricardo Carvalho, while also withdrawing all bonuses he would have been entitled to receive following Portugal’s qualification for the final tournament of Euro 2012.”

Carvalho was not fined on that occasion. He did not return to the Portugal squad until Fernando Santos took charge of the national team three years later, and he subsequently represented Portugal at Euro 2016.

At least in terms of suspension length, Carvalho’s punishment was considerably more severe than Ronaldo’s current sanction. However, it is important to note that the disciplinary regulations applicable to Carvalho at the time allowed for a maximum suspension of two years, whereas Ronaldo faced a maximum ban of six months. After mitigating circumstances were taken into account, Ronaldo’s suspension was ultimately reduced to 30 days.