Villas-Boas on Dragão Arena: “Audit found no irregularities” | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas clarified the incidents recorded at the Dragão Arena and assured that the audit carried out by FC Porto ruled out any irregularity in the dressing room used by Sporting.

The Porto president stated that, “from the very first moment,” the dressing room door remained closed until it was opened to receive the Lisbon team, stressing that this ruled out “any wrongdoing involving cleaning products and toxic substances, as well as any internal or external sabotage.”

According to Villas-Boas, the club thoroughly analyzed internal procedures and CCTV footage, concluding that the space, after being cleaned the previous day, was not touched again until the opponent arrived.

The official also added that several Sporting players left the dressing room on the instructions of FC Porto’s security director. He also referred to the situation involving Ricardo Costa, coach of Sporting’s handball team, explaining that he was inside the dressing room for about 40 seconds and only later began to feel unwell, with symptoms associated with high blood pressure.

Villas-Boas expressed regret over the episode involving the Sporting coach, who was previously honored with a Dragão de Ouro, and left a message wishing him a speedy recovery: FC Porto hopes Ricardo Costa recovers quickly and is soon able to return to coaching Sporting.

The case arose following the handball derby between FC Porto and Sporting, played at the Dragão Arena, and continues to affect the atmosphere between the two clubs at a decisive stage of the season. FC Porto remains, however, calm regarding the established facts and considers that there is no element supporting suspicions of sabotage or the use of toxic substances at the venue.

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