Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension for leaving the Portuguese national team camp during the Uefa Nations League, the country's football federation (FPF) announced on Monday. The 41-year-old left the Portugal camp on September 30, before accusing coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word about giving him game time. Ronaldo apologised to supporters earlier in October, adding he would accept any punishment that was imposed. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who will also have to pay a fine of 255 euros, has received the minimum penalty provided for in the federation's regulations, which stipulate suspensions of between one and six months for leaving the national team. Ronaldo left Portugal's squad after first being made to warm up as a substitute against Norway on September 27 and not brought on, and then finding out he would not start against Denmark in the match on October 1. Ronaldo's suspension takes effect from the day of the Denmark match, meaning he has already served 19 days of his ban and will complete it by the end of October. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is Portugal's all-time top goalscorer and record appearance-maker. But in his absence, Portugal won all four of their Nations League matches and qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. Portugal host Denmark on November 14 and then travel to face Wales on November 17 in their final two Nations League Group A4 matches – by which time Ronaldo will have served his suspension. The FPF disciplinary committee said it took into account "the remorse shown in the statement" issued by Ronaldo on October 6, in which he admitted his mistake and expressed his willingness to accept a punishment. (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong

James Maddison made a sensational return to Tottenham's starting line-up after 17 months away on Monday as Spurs beat Coventry 3-1 to claim their long-awaited first Premier League win of the season. The England midfielder has featured only fleetingly since May 2025, when he suffered the first of two serious knee injuries. But Maddison needed less than a quarter of an hour to put Spurs ahead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a stunning first-time strike from outside the penalty area. Jack Rudoni levelled early in the second half but the home side were back in front just before the hour mark when Omar Marmoush lashed home his first goal for the club and substitute Ben Davies made the points safe late on. Roberto De Zerbi's team came into the match bottom of the Premier League and with the unwanted record of being the only team in England's top six divisions without a league win this season despite a huge summer spend. The Spurs boss had taken his squad to Marbella in southern Spain for some warm-weather training in a bid to kickstart their season. He named Maddison in his starting line-up while Sweden midfielder Dejan Kulusevski returned to the matchday squad for the first time in 17 months. Maddison ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August 2025, just three months after injuring the same knee. The 29-year-old wasted little time in making his mark, putting his side ahead in the 14th minute in spectacular style after fine work from Mohammed Kudus on the right. Maddison, lurking just outside the penalty area, received the ball from Kudus and sent it curling past Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and into the top corner, sparking wild scenes of delight among the home fans. Tottenham now had their tails up and threatened to overwhelm the visitors but Frank Lampard's newly promoted Coventry, who had won their previous two games, re-established a foothold. Maddison went close to putting Spurs 2-0 after half an hour but his half-cross, half-shot curled narrowly wide. But they failed to stretch their lead and Coventry were level in the 49th minute, courtesy of a Rudoni strike from close range. Spurs lost the ball in the Coventry half and the visitors swept forward. Rudoni's cross hit a teammate but the ball fell kindly for him and he drove home. Just nine minutes later Spurs were back in front when former Manchester City forward Marmoush held off Milan van Ewijk before unleashing an unstoppable shot. Kulusevski, who suffered a knee injury in May 2025, was introduced in the final minutes to a huge ovation from the home fans. Spurs veteran Davies made the three points safe deep into added time, poking home from the edge of the penalty area as Tottenham could at last relax. (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong

Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts will miss the remainder of the NFL season after multiple blood clots were found in the quarterback's lungs, US media reported on Monday. NFL Network and ESPN said the discovery of several clots meant Hurts would undergo treatment for at least three months, ending his season with the Eagles. The Eagles had already announced that Hurts, who led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last year, would miss at least a month after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf. The clot was discovered after the Eagles recently travelled to London for a game against Jacksonville as part of the NFL's international series. A statement issued by the Eagles and Hurts' agent Nicole Lynn on Monday made no mention of the player's absence, but confirmed he had been diagnosed with "a deep vein thrombosis as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli." The statement said Hurts was "clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations." It said during a period of treatment with blood thinners, Hurts would not "be allowed to participate in any contact activities, including football." "Jalen's prognosis is very good, and we expect a full recovery," the statement added. "We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners. "In the meantime, he will remain active around the team and continue to condition. More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects." (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong