CORNERFLICK
Cristiano Ronaldo has said the Portuguese federation should punish him after the fallout from Portugal's recent camp, while criticising a promised public clarification from head coach Jorge Jesus that did not arrive as expected.
Ronaldo describes the dispute
The Portugal captain said he had agreed with Jesus that the coach would repeat in a press conference what had been said in private, including that Ronaldo had not asked for minutes in the camp and that the decision to use him had been Jesus's own idea. Ronaldo said that did not happen.
He also said he accepted responsibility for leaving the pitch without going over to thank the supporters after Portugal's match against Wales. "That was a mistake," he said, adding that he had apologised to Portuguese fans and to others who had travelled to see him.
What Ronaldo says happened next
Ronaldo said Jesus had asked him before the coach's appointment for his view on the role, and that he told federation president Fernando Gomes he thought Jesus would be the right choice. He added that he was pleased when Jesus was named.
According to Hesham Online, Ronaldo said the dispute should now be reviewed by the federation, and that his own punishment should take into account his role as captain. He said he had already apologised, but accepted that actions must have consequences.