FC Porto fined for security failings in clash with Benfica | OneFootball

FC Porto was sanctioned by the Disciplinary Council (DC) of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) with a fine of 3,060 euros following organizational and security failures recorded during the match against Benfica, corresponding to the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals, played on January 14 at the Dragão and won 1-0 by the blue-and-whites.

The DC’s decision came after a complaint filed by Benfica SAD. In the complaint, the Eagles reported «discriminatory» and «inhumane and degrading» treatment allegedly suffered by their supporters at the Dragão Stadium.

According to Benfica’s complaint, hundreds of supporters, including children and elderly people, were forced to take off their shoes on a wet floor in order to be searched. The slow access to the stadium also caused many spectators to miss the entire first half of the match.

In its defense, FC Porto placed responsibility for the delay on Benfica and its supporters, arguing that they arrived late at the meeting point and that one group tried to force entry, causing disorder. The Dragons also argued that the footwear search was a proportionate security measure, recommended by the PSP, due to previous incidents of pyrotechnics being thrown from that section.

However, the ruling of the Disciplinary Council, approved unanimously, concluded that FC Porto failed to ensure the «minimum conditions of comfort» for spectators. The body considered the management of the entry flow particularly serious, noting that the stadium stewards were letting supporters through «drop by drop». As a result, the control points were left empty while hundreds of people remained on the stairs for around two hours.

The conduct of the match organizer was classified as «conscious negligence», since several warnings from the security forces to speed up the process were ignored. FC Porto’s repeat offense in serious match organization infractions in the previous season was cited as an aggravating factor in applying the sanction.

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