Rodolfo Reis: “Toxic smell row? Of course I suspect Sporting” | OneFootball

Rodolfo Reis was not indifferent to the controversy involving the visiting dressing room at the Dragão Arena before the handball clássico between FC Porto and Sporting, and he had harsh words in his analysis of the case, openly questioning the version presented by the Alvalade club.

The CMTV commentator began by pointing to what he considers an inconsistency in the account of the facts. «A lady goes there because she already has allergies and I don’t know what else, and then 15 minutes later this lady went there and no longer smelled anything. How is this possible?», he asked, referring to the delegate from the Portuguese Handball Federation who, according to several reports, confirmed the odor on a first visit to the dressing room but, when she returned minutes later, detected nothing.

«I’m suspicious of Sporting. Absolutely no doubt about it»

Pressed live on air about whether he was suspicious of Sporting, Rodolfo Reis did not hesitate: «Of course I am. Absolutely no doubt about it, I’m suspicious of Sporting.» However, the commentator was keen to draw a line between suspicion and a direct accusation. «I don’t want to say, nor would I stake my reputation on saying, that Sporting did this. That would be absurd. Never», he said, admitting that he also does not rule out that the incident may indeed have happened. «I’m not even saying it didn’t happen. I have doubts about everything.»

Rodolfo Reis also made a reference to Sporting’s president, without mentioning him by name, saying he is someone he does not respect because he «never respected FC Porto’s presidents — especially the greatest president, without the slightest doubt, in Europe.»

Despite the tough tone, the commentator stressed the respect he still has for Sporting as a club and for its fans and members. «I respect Sporting as a club, very much so. I respect Sporting’s fans and members, very much so. A great club», he declared.

The battle cry: «Damn FC Porto»

If the dressing-room case prompted caution and suspicion, the closing of Rodolfo Reis’s remarks was pure Portismo in its rawest form — a “damn” that is actually praise, a cry of pride and defiance aimed at those who want to see the Dragons fail.

«Damn FC Porto, you’re out in front. Damn FC Porto, you don’t lose at Luz. Damn FC Porto, you’re going to beat Braga. Against everything and everyone, against a referee, my God. Damn FC Porto, with 7 matchdays to go, 4 points ahead of Sporting and 7 ahead of Benfica. Damn FC Porto.»

A statement that sums up, in just a few words, what many Porto supporters feel at this decisive stage of the season: the certainty that the path is made against everything and everyone — and that, for FC Porto, is nothing new. It is identity.

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