EX-REAL MADRID defender Fabio Coentrao has earned football's most pointless ban – 15 months after quitting playing to become a fisherman.
The former Portugal star has been suspended for one game following a flare-up in April 2021, despite retiring a month later.
It shows Coentrao is still making waves in the sport, more than a year after giving up the high life for the deep seas.
The Portuguese Football Federation have finally handed down punishments after investigating the climax of a heated 3-3 draw between Boavista and Coentrao's last club Rio Ave.
Left-back Coentrao netted Rio Ave's third equaliser in stoppage-time after red cards for one player on each side and a Boavista coach.
Now the ex-Benfica hero, 34, has been suspended and fined €850 – about £725 – for "injuries and reputational offences".
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Coentrao is a close pal of Manchester United's wantaway legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
But while Coentrao has been banned from playing, Ron has been panned for trying to play somewhere elsewhere.
And Wednesday's suspension just confirmed how far the duo's careers have diverged.
But there could be one similarity to come.
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Coentrao wound down his career at his first club Rio Ave.
And fellow countryman Ron could rev his back up with his original team – Sporting Lisbon.
United are still tipped to keep the 37-year-old beyond the transfer window.
But if Ronaldo does get his wish to move, Sporting are one of the few clubs to have reportedly shown interest.
Coentrao, meanwhile, insists he has his 'dream' job – out on a boat.
He told Empower Brands's YouTube channel: "Life in the sea is not a shame, as many people think.
I knew football would one day end and I should take a new direction. And my happiness is this boat.
"It is a job like any other. Not only that, the sea is beautiful and we need it.
"People who love the sea and who want to experience the sea need to follow their dream."
The 52-cap ace added: "My father had a boat, he used to fish and always went with him as a child. My life was the sea… the sea and fishing.
"Of course, I knew that football would one day end and that I should take a new direction in my life.
"And my happiness is this boat and this is the life I want to lead."
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