Pedro Proença’s constant plea against violence: “Just a date clash…” | OneFootball

The president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, reiterated this Wednesday the “constant” fight against violence, assuring that the federation will act whenever it believes that “things are not going the right way.”

The federation official presided over the launch of the “Stop Violence” campaign, held in the atrium of Arena Portugal, at Football City, in Oeiras, and stressed that the choice of date, precisely on the day the classic match between FC Porto and Sporting is being played for the Portuguese Cup, is nothing more than a “mere coincidence,” although he did issue a warning.

“It is a mere coincidence of dates that this is happening today, on the day of the Portuguese Cup semi-final. The appeal is always made, whether for the Portuguese Cup semi-final match or for the 306 matches organized in the Primeira Liga, the same in the Segunda Liga and all non-professional competitions. The appeal is constant and whenever we see that things are not going the right way, we will intervene. That will always be our role,” he said, making it clear that the FPF will remain attentive and ready to intervene whenever justified.

Regarding the match between FC Porto and Sporting, scheduled for this Wednesday at 20:45, the FPF leader expressed confidence in a “good game,” framed by the positive “spirit” that usually surrounds the Portuguese Cup.

“We want satisfaction for the fans and we believe that everything will go well today and that it will be a great sporting spectacle,” wished the former referee.

Also regarding the classic match that will decide qualification for the Cup final, the president of the Professional Football Players’ Union (SJPF), Joaquim Evangelista, criticized the “path” followed by Rui Costa, Frederico Varandas and André Villas-Boas, presidents of Benfica, Sporting and FC Porto.

“I think we need to have the ability to say it openly: it has nothing to do with the people, as I respect all three, but I understand that in this context, which is sport, football, competition, they may have gone down that path, but we must avoid it at all costs. It adds no value to national sport,” he said.

Joaquim Evangelista also stressed that the presidents of the three “big” clubs maintain an “institutional relationship,” although in periods of greater competitiveness they move away from that coexistence, particularly because of issues related to sporting results or refereeing, something he regrets.

“I think that, despite everything, they manage to have an institutional relationship. Then, at certain moments in the competition, atypical moments related to results or refereeing, there is a tendency to stray from what should be normalized behavior, of mutual respect, of dignity, in their very relationship with one another. I do not understand how the leaders cannot sit down together,” he pointed out.

The launch of the “Stop Violence” campaign also featured speeches by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the president of the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP), Reinaldo Teixeira, and Vítor Filipe, head of the Lisbon association and representative of the district structures at the event.

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