Villas-Boas: Penalties v Benfica, Moreirense show "shirt weight" | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas drew a parallel, in the editorial of the latest edition of Dragões magazine, between the penalty situations that occurred against Benfica and Moreirense, which had different outcomes. While António Silva’s shirt pull on Deniz Gül in the derby with the Eagles did not result in a penalty, what happened with Froholdt in Moreira de Cónegos was sanctioned and converted into a goal.

“In this regard, we are preparing for a week of great mental gymnastics by sports commentators, from the unawarded penalty at Dragão for Deniz Gül’s shirt being pulled, to the penalty awarded in Moreira de Cónegos for Viktor Froholdt’s shirt being pulled. Now, FC Porto knows that the weight of the blue and white shirt and its pink shirt is the same, but as for the weight of other clubs’ shirts, we prefer not to comment,” said the president of FC Porto.

Read the full editorial.

“In a context of external pressures, dubious interests, and attempts at recentralization, FC Porto reaffirms its commitment to sporting truth, financial transparency, and the strength of its supporters.

The regular and active participation of Futebol Clube do Porto in forums for reflection on football and its industry is not limited to mere representation. Rather, it is the materialization of our responsibility in the world of sport—and football in particular—as well as our strategic vision in the face of the complex national and global situation, in an industry where sporting success is constantly under enormous financial pressure and threatened by a suffocating temptation for regulatory entropy.

Thus, FC Porto was recently represented, with relevant interventions, at the General Assembly of the European Football Clubs, the UEFA Competitions Committee, the EY European Football Stadium Financing Summit, the UEFA Certificate in Football Management, and the Portugal Football Summit organized by the FPF.

Football is at a crossroads full of challenges that even put its integrity into question on several fronts. We are witnessing movements that seek to impose environments permeable to illegitimate interests, distorting the truth of competition. To the interests of investors of dubious origin, who insist on trying to force their way into Portuguese football, and the fog that hangs over sports betting by direct participants in the game—as we recently saw in the NBA and Turkish football—there is also a national partisanship that is allowing centralism to become ever more shamelessly entrenched, whether riding on the back of a saturated media system that pollutes more than it clarifies, or through “holy alliances” on the second ring road aimed at weakening FC Porto, its values, and principles.

The centralization of audiovisual rights, the inability of structures linked to the organization of competitions and refereeing to consistently value sporting truth, the trafficking of underage players, multi-ownership of clubs, or the origin of dubious capital in sports corporations are issues and fronts where we must remain vigilant and active.

In this scenario, FC Porto assumes the non-negotiable responsibility of being an active and consequential agent. Our status as a leading European club, forged in sporting achievements, a globally recognized reputation, and a history of always being involved in critical discussions for the evolution of football and its industry for decades, gives us the authority to intervene in major structural discussions about the future of football:

• Centralization of Audiovisual Rights: The main European leagues operate with centralized models and distribution rules that combine an equal share, sporting merit, and market variables (audiences, social impact, quality of infrastructure, and training projects). Any proposal must adopt these best practices to the Portuguese reality and the goal of competitive convergence, knowing in advance that Sports Corporations must unite with the Government in the fight against piracy, which is fundamentally the biggest obstacle to creating greater value for the overall revenue package to be obtained with Centralization.

• Structural Sustainability Model: Our management “case study” is our best weapon. We were pioneers and today, in a renewed way, we show that financial success and strict accounting are not antagonistic vectors, but an obligation. The Dragon Notes operation is now being “copied” by our biggest rivals. FC Porto is proud to have brought the name of the Portuguese football industry to heavyweight partners in international banking, with vision and scope in the restructuring and strengthening of Sports Corporations. In debates on structural reforms, we will insist that the future of football lies in more transparent management practices, compliance with financial Fair Play, and the defense of the integrity of competitions, and not in chronic indebtedness or the creation of privileged structures, contrary to healthy competition and the values of sport.

• Defense of Competitive Justice: FC Porto will continue to raise its firm and dissenting voice against any actions that seek to distort sporting performance and the strict compliance with existing rules. To date, and once again, we can say that, until today, VAR technology in Portugal still does not operate to the full extent of its capabilities in many stadiums of its Professional Leagues. Amateurism drags on and it is precisely here that we need strong and visionary leadership. We want to believe in open competition, in advancement based on effort and quality, demonstrating value on the field, supported by the best available technology to support better decision-making by referees and thus ensure sporting truth. Our presence in decision-making bodies is a guarantee that sporting merit will always be defended uncompromisingly, even when it does not find support in national bodies, it will surely find it in international ones, where FC Porto’s voice is respected and recognized. In this regard, we are preparing for a week of great mental gymnastics by sports commentators, from the unawarded penalty at Dragão for Deniz Gül’s shirt being pulled, to the penalty awarded in Moreira de Cónegos for Viktor Froholdt’s shirt being pulled. Now, FC Porto knows that the weight of the blue and white shirt and its pink shirt is the same, but as for the weight of other clubs’ shirts, we prefer not to comment.

• Preservation of Passion and Identity: The essence of football lies in valuing the athlete, the team, and the game to meet the aspirations of Members and Supporters. FC Porto has the duty to ensure that the evolution of football respects and enhances club identity, the connection to the supporter, the emotion of the stands, which are the true capital of this Club.

All movements contrary to this way of being and living football will be fought by us, in words and in actions. So do not be surprised if our presence and interventions are noticed.

It was this way of being and the perseverance that motivates us that made it possible, in a short period of time, to create the conditions to already present such encouraging accounts for the 2024/2025 season. We managed to achieve—even without participating in the Champions League, where we will do everything to be next season—a consolidated net result of €39.2 million, the best result ever for our SAD. These results are not just numbers; they represent the restoration of confidence, the validation of competence, and proof that FC Porto has regained control over its destiny. This is the first step to being sure that we are on a winning path.

Moving to the immediate reality on the pitch, without getting carried away, the crucial phase of the season we are in demands absolute commitment from all of us, Portistas. After the victory in Moreira de Cónegos, difficult games against Sp. Braga and Famalicão are approaching, with a trip to Utrecht in between.

The winning culture we are made of must be lived daily, non-negotiably. An entire structure works, based on a clear strategy, to create the best working conditions, so we always demand maximum loyalty, seriousness, discipline, and professionalism from our athletes. But it is also imperative that they feel the burning passion and unconditional and massive support from all of you, in the streets, in those forums, on social media, in the stands, even when we suffer a setback.

As our coach, Farioli, very appropriately said in his native language, we are a “famiglia.” The Portista family.

It is in this granite-like unity that our difference lies. We will not allow threats, insinuations, or media or other pressures to affect our purpose to win. Let us face challenges with the determination that our History deserves and the future demands of us. If determination is our hallmark, demand is our daily method.

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