André Villas-Boas says Porto audited clássico incident, vows tough response if case is archived | OneFootball

FC Porto president André Villas-Boas said the club has run extensive internal and external audits into the handball clássico incident and is fully documented, adding Porto will take a hard line with Sporting if prosecutors close the case.

The controversy stems from the first game of the championship phase at Dragão Arena, which started about 15 minutes late after Sporting complained of a strong odour in their dressing room, with coach Ricardo Costa and Christian Moga treated on site. Sporting won 33-30. According to O Jogo, the Public Prosecutor has opened an inquiry.

Villas-Boas said procedures were normal and ruled out any internal or external sabotage. He said several Sporting players, and their coach, went in and out of the dressing room, and that only much later the coach felt unwell with high blood pressure.

He said Porto hold clear medical and police records and, if the case is archived by the Public Prosecutor as he expects, the club will pursue Sporting over alleged defamation and attacks on its good name. He accused the Lisbon club of exploiting the episode and said raising other cases with the Government was inappropriate.

Villas-Boas also met the minister for Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, who had earlier received Sporting president Frederico Varandas to discuss the incidents. He said he has tried to ease tensions among the big three but cannot allow a permanently incendiary rival president to smear Porto.

He added that calmer communication could yet foster understanding. Meanwhile, the federation has referred the case to the disciplinary council. Sporting lead with 23 wins from 23, on 36 points, ahead of Benfica on 32, Porto on 31 and Águas Santas on 26, with five rounds remaining. Porto official Mário Santos also accused Martim Costa of hitting a home fan during the warm-up.

Source: O Jogo