FC Porto denounces probe reports, says those who warned are now suspects | OneFootball

FC Porto issued a lengthy Sunday statement rejecting reports that the Polícia Judiciária is investigating the club over refereeing matters following allegations by Duarte Gomes. The club said in a statement that attempts to turn its institutional challenge into a conspiracy place it under suspicion without evidence.

At a time when Portuguese justice is examining possible interference, favouritism and leaks linked to referee appointments, it called the reversal of roles and the dragging in of the club that publicly warned of risks a distortion. It has demanded clarity on refereeing and was the only club to push for the temporary suspension of the President of the Refereeing Council while facts are established.

Since the start of the season, it considers the standard of officiating against Porto lamentable. Across six rounds, only the Rio Ave and Arouca matches were, in its view, free of incidents that harmed the team. In the others, it pointed to a regular pattern of unfavourable decisions.

The club maintains it is exposing a public and documented reality, not any invented interference from those looking to manufacture suspicion. It also contends that those who raised concerns are now treated as suspects, while the officials responsible for appointments are removed from the narrative.

With a clássico approaching, the statement criticised what it called centralist newsrooms for letting militancy trump rigour and for confusing a hoped-for result with information. It concluded that such desire is legitimate, but fabricating suspicion is not.

Source: O Jogo

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