The biggest sporting event in Portugal on Sunday descended into a farce with Sporting CP accusing FC Porto of tampering with their dressing room.
The handball clash between the two giants was delayed by 15 minutes and Sporting’s coach Ricardo Costa and player Christian Moga both sat out after receiving medical treatment.
The shocking story comes after the two footballing teams also levelled accusations at each other following a Primeira Liga clash on February 10th.
Sporting also complained about the dressing room on that occasion, and made allegations about speakers in the away end at the Dragao, while ball boys time-wasted.
Sporting referenced both incidents as they threatened to involved the Portuguese government in a statement.
Sporting’s statement
“Sporting Clube de Portugal considers the successive actions that FC Porto has been carrying out in recent times to be absolutely repugnant and will urgently request a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
“It is impossible to continue witnessing this shameful, repeated, and deliberate succession of behaviors without immediate and exemplary consequences.
“Sporting CP considers it imperative that all institutions responsible for overseeing sport promote sporting integrity, and it is unacceptable that behaviours of this nature – repeatedly perpetrated by the same individuals – should shame and jeopardize the image of Portuguese sport internationally.
“In this sense, it is essential that those who regulate sport in Portugal take a firm and relentless stance and punish, with all severity, these undignified behaviours, which have already exceeded the limits of what is acceptable in a state governed by the rule of law.
“If any naive illusion still lingered that the shady practices of the past had been eradicated, reality has brutally and unequivocally destroyed them. What we see today is not merely a repetition: it is a refined escalation. More vile, more base, and even more unspeakable than the darkest episodes that have stained Portuguese sport.
“The latest chapter in this unacceptable series of events has reached a level that surpasses all limits: a locker room with an intense, toxic smell that has affected the physical condition of players and staff of the handball team. This is not only regrettable, it is criminal.
“Faced with this situation, Sporting CP expressed its opposition to the match taking place, given that the team was without its coach and one of its players. Nevertheless, it was formally informed that the necessary conditions were met for the game to proceed, which is why it was forced to take to the field, doing so under protest.
“Sporting CP considers that these behaviours significantly distort the truth. This is an absolute subversion of the values that should govern any sporting practice, carried out consciously, repeatedly and systematically by the same participants as always.”
Porto’s response
Porto responded with their own statement, which read: “FC Porto hereby categorically, clearly and unequivocally denies the reports made public regarding incidents allegedly occurring in the visiting team’s dressing room at the Dragão Arena, before the league match against Sporting CP, associated with supposed ‘intense odours’. Such insinuations are serious, abusive and totally unfounded.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations, FC Porto immediately contacted the Portuguese Handball Federation, to whom it categorically denied the facts in question. FC Porto also contacted the Public Security Police so that this entity could also verify immediately and first-hand that there are no anomalous conditions in the visiting team’s dressing room at the Dragão Arena.
“Additionally, and with the authorization of the Portuguese Handball Federation, FC Porto hereby expresses its full willingness to allow duly accredited media outlets access to the facilities, permitting a direct and independent verification of the existing conditions.
“FC Porto strongly rejects any attempt to associate its name, infrastructure, or professionals with situations that do not correspond to reality. This is an unacceptable accusation that unjustifiably damages the reputation of an institution.
“Regarding the apparent indispositions of Sporting CP members, it is only necessary to mention that emergency services were promptly activated, and all necessary support was provided with professionalism and responsibility.
“FC Porto is a century-old institution with a widely recognized history and reputation, and demands that its actions be evaluated with rigor, responsibility, and respect.
“FC Porto does not condone or involve itself in these types of situations.”
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