APAF demands exemplary action over Fábio Veríssimo referee pressure | OneFootball

The Portuguese Football Referees Association (APAF) released a firm statement this Tuesday regarding the controversy involving referee Fábio Veríssimo, who was allegedly subjected to pressure during the halftime of the match between FC Porto and Sporting de Braga, held on Sunday at the Estádio do Dragão.

In the statement, APAF claims that this is “another case of disrespect and impunity” in Portuguese football and adds that “the time has come to say enough.” The association demands that the competent authorities intervene “immediately and with total transparency” and calls for exemplary punishments for all those involved in the incident.

The statement also reads: “Portuguese football must put an end to the pressure and intimidation of referees, and cannot continue to live in a climate of fear and suspicion. (…) The current climate is toxic and unsustainable.”

The entity representing the referees denounces an “escalation in the number of pressure episodes” and accuses clubs and officials of promoting “defamation campaigns and inflammatory speeches against refereeing.”

APAF announced that it will request urgent meetings with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Liga Portugal, and the Government, claiming to have an “active role in the necessary regulatory changes” to protect the class and ensure more effective sanctions.

The statement follows the disciplinary process that the FPF's Disciplinary Council opened against FC Porto, following reports of alleged pressure exerted on Fábio Veríssimo during halftime of the match against Braga.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.