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

FC Porto is seriously considering the possibility of filing a complaint with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), together with a claim for compensation, following the injury suffered by Jan Bednarek last Saturday, during the first half of the 1-0 win 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 opening 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 may have been 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, according to Lúcio Correia, a sports law professor at Lusíada University.

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

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

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

FPF could 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 used in carrying out its duties and powers, the Federation, ultimately — if, of course, that fault is duly established and proven — is always liable to third parties.”

“Then, if, because of the damages it may end up bearing before FC Porto or any other club, that responsibility is established and it suffers the consequences, then yes, the Federation itself may go to that company and, obviously, seek reimbursement for the damages it has meanwhile paid. It is exactly the opposite of what the Federation’s own statement says. 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.