FC Porto want FPF to pay for Bednarek injury: “The main problem…” | OneFootball

FC Porto is seriously considering the possibility of filing a complaint with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), together with a claim for damages, following the injury suffered by Jan Bednarek last Saturday during the first half of the 1-0 victory over Torreense, a result that secured the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.

According to Desporto ao Minuto, the Polish international suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The injury is expected to rule him out of facing Alverca in the first round of the Primeira Liga, a match scheduled for 6:00 pm (mainland Portugal time) next Sunday at the Estádio do Dragão.

The board led by André Villas-Boas believes the physical problem was caused by the poor condition of the pitch at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra. If that link is proven, there may be grounds for financial compensation, says Lúcio Correia, professor of sports law at Lusíada University.

“This is a situation that is not very common. It is not something clubs or other parties can effectively use very often, but it is perfectly provided for in the law, and, obviously, FC Porto will have to provide the evidence, identify it and quantify it. Then, of course, the Federation will respond to it, but all of this is perfectly covered by the law,” he said.

“What matters here is, in fact, FC Porto having the ability to show that the pitch was not in proper condition, and, even more importantly — and this is where the major complication of this action lies — that the state of the pitch caused the injury to one of its players, and that it may, in fact, have arisen exclusively from the condition of the pitch,” he continued.

“That is the big issue with this action. Now, obviously, the action may not contain only this. It may even include other matters and other damages in relation to which FC Porto or another club feels wronged. It is not common, but it is provided for by law and it is possible,” he concluded, in comments made this Monday to Antena 1.

FPF may really be in trouble

For its part, the FPF places responsibility on the company hired to organize the match. However, Lúcio Correia warns that, if it is found at fault, it may have to bear the costs: “What the law says is that, regardless of whether the fault lies with the Federation itself or with the people it turned to in the exercise of its duties and powers, the Federation, ultimately — provided, of course, that this fault is duly certified and proven — is always liable to third parties.”

“Then, if, as a result of the damages it may end up bearing before FC Porto or any other club, that liability is established and it suffers the consequences, then yes, the Federation itself may go to that company and, of course, seek reimbursement for the damages it has meanwhile paid. It is exactly the opposite of what is stated in the Federation’s own statement. The law is clear on that,” he concluded.

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