Today, Sporting announced the presentation of a complaint to the FPF CD, to “establish the truth”, after Veríssimo felt pressured in the aforementioned game.
“Sporting considers any attempt, direct or indirect, to condition, influence or pressure referees or other sports agents to be absolutely unacceptable. Situations of this nature tarnish the credibility of competitions and are a clear setback for Portuguese football”, can be read in the statement released by the two-time national champion.
Faced with this situation, in which Fábio Veríssimo came across a television playing repeatedly, without the device being able to be turned off, some moments in the first half, Sporting wants “all responsibilities to be determined and sanctions applied”.
“Sporting demands that the competent authorities act relentlessly, investigating all responsibilities and applying the sanctions that are necessary, without exceptions or complacency, announcing from now on that it will also present a disciplinary report to the Disciplinary Council with a view to establishing the truth and all those responsible”, he pointed out.
The ‘Leonine’ emblem also adds that “it will not accept a return to behind-the-scenes football and pressure, nor will it be used to disguise old practices with a new institutional appearance”.
Sp. Braga, FC Porto’s opponent, for its part, demands “firm and immediate responses” from the various entities, namely the FPF and the League. “The President of Sp. Braga addressed formal letters to the Presidents of the Portuguese Football Federation, the Arbitration Council and the Portugal League, requesting responses on the facts reported and on the action taken to defend the arbitration sector and the integrity of the competitions”, the Minho team reported this Tuesday, revealing that it was “these responsible were given a response time”.
FC Porto leads the I Liga with 28 points, three more points than two-time champion Sporting, second placed, and four more than Benfica, third.
The ‘blue and whites’ won against Braga, 2-1, after a comeback, with goals from Rodrigo Mora, at 44, and Borja Sainz, at 79, after Victor Gómez had given the Minho team an advantage.