Liga Portugal reported that the Famalicão-Sporting match, on matchday 20, was postponed by agreement between the clubs, to a date yet to be defined, as there were no “safety conditions” for the match to take place this Saturday or tomorrow (Sunday ).
The organization condemned the clashes that took place outside the stadium, while fans waited for the doors to open.
The League also claimed that the authorities assured, at the game preparation meeting, that the security conditions were met, and acknowledged that it was «surprised, at the last minute of the meeting, with the information that the agents assigned to FC Famalicão – Sporting CP would have, as a form of protest, claimed medical leave so as not to be present at the site».
The organization led by Pedro Proença also points out that “public peace was put at risk”, in a sign of “total disrespect for all those who, some traveling hundreds of kilometers, traveled to the sports venue”. Furthermore, it demands “the initiation of an investigation process as a matter of urgency”.
«Liga Portugal demands that the Government, in particular the Minister of Internal Administration, initiate an investigation process as a matter of urgency, in order to determine responsibility for what happened, in defense of fans and families, and informs that it will also demand, in the appropriate instances, be compensated for damages caused by irresponsible actions to which it is completely unrelated», concludes the note.
The Famalicão-Sporting match was initially scheduled for 6pm this Saturday, but was postponed to 7pm, when the Public Security Police were trying to find staff, after several agents who were deployed to ensure the safety of the game were discharged.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out near the stadium, which resulted in injuries and material damage.
The game, finally, ended up being postponed and the teams already left the venue.
The statement from Liga Portugal:
«Liga Portugal informs that the game between FC Famalicão and Sporting CP, referring to round 20 of the Liga Portugal Betclic, has been postponed, by agreement between the clubs, to a date yet to be defined, after receiving information from the person responsible for the police force present at the Famalicão Municipal Stadium that there are no safe conditions for holding the event today or tomorrow.
Liga Portugal repudiates the incidents that occurred today outside the Famalicão Municipal Stadium, while FC Famalicão and Sporting CP fans waited for the opening of doors to access the interior of the venue, delayed by the fact that the agents assigned to police the game, did not appear at the stadium.
Liga Portugal informs that, in the preparation meeting it organizes in the week preceding all games in its competitions, all safety conditions for the match were guaranteed by the authorities, with Liga Portugal being surprised, in at the last minute of the meeting, with the information that the agents assigned to FC Famalicão- Sporting CP had, as a form of protest, claimed medical leave so as not to be present at the site, putting public peace and the physical integrity of thousands at risk. of fans waiting to enter the venue, as well as a total disrespect for all those who, some traveling hundreds of kilometers, traveled to the sports venue.
Liga Portugal and the Clubs, which annually spend millions of euros to ensure safety in professional competitions and are fully committed to promoting the return of families to stadiums, do not accept that Football is, due to its enormous visibility, instrumentalized for the resolving issues with which it has no relation, putting into question not only the normal course of professional competitions but also the preparation for the international participation of Clubs present in UEFA competitions and, more seriously, the safety of fans who intend to attend the games .
Liga Portugal demands that the Government, in particular the Minister of Internal Administration, initiate an investigation process as a matter of urgency, in order to determine responsibility for what happened, in defense of fans and families, and informs that it will also demand, in own instances, be compensated for damages caused by irresponsible actions to which it is completely unrelated.”
2024-02-03 19:40:00
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