Sporting will file a criminal complaint against Vítor Baía, Sérgio Conceição and Rui Cerqueira, vice-president, coach and communication director of FC Porto, respectively, for “verbal aggression and attempts at physical aggression” that will have been targeted Frederico Varandas, president of the lions.
In a statement, Sporting says that after Varandas’ statements in the press room of Estádio do Dragão, and when he was heading for the club’s bus, “the three elements, surrounded by several security guards, made a wait” for Varandas and that Rui Cerqueira allegedly rammed the leonine leader “in a violent way”, “taking his wallet with cell phone, personal identification cards and credit cards from his hand, immediately putting himself to flight”.
“Despite the presence of the police at the scene, the device and documents were not found,” the statement said.
The Alvalade club also says that it will also make a “disciplinary participation with a view to interdicting the Estádio do Dragão, as provided for in the regulations, due to the aggressions against Sporting CP players by elements outside the playing field, and which are documented in images that everyone can see”.
“It is also important to mention that supporters assigned to Sporting CP were prevented from entering the Estádio do Dragão and that others, inside the stadium, were victims of attempted aggression. A list of regrettable episodes that in no way dignify what is football in particular and sport in general”, can be read in the text.
Sporting also underlines that “what has been happening in football for 40 years is the responsibility of the weakness of institutions, sports and outside of them, and of their leaders, who have a duty to protect sport and citizens”.
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