Varandas slams Villas-Boas, says Porto lied | OneFootball

Frederico Varandas responded this Tuesday, February 17, in Alcochete, speaking to journalists, to Porto's attacks and to the remarks made through the Dragões Diário newsletter, namely the claim that the Lions control refereeing. The President of Sporting says the rival lied and harshly criticizes André Villas Boas.

Porto's Words

"Regarding what the statement says about Sporting, I will focus on two points. One is very direct, it talks about yet another incident in the Sporting vs. Famalicão game. Curiously, that incident, which is rare in Portuguese football, had unanimous agreement among all commentators in their sports analysis. Everyone considers the decision was the correct one. The second point, they insinuate that Sporting has pawns on a Non-Permanent Refereeing Committee. I have already clarified this matter, but they are interested in persisting with the lie. And I will explain again: these governing bodies of the Federation were elected with Porto's support. In May, before the season started, 19 committees were created. What are they? Reflection groups. They do not report to the Refereeing Council, do not report to the Disciplinary Council, and have no deliberative power. The Federation invited the 84 delegates, which include the professional clubs, to the working committees. Sporting signed up. But didn't Porto also sign up? There were committees for refereeing, competitions, youth football, players, coaches... Whoever wrote this statement knows they are lying. The purpose of this statement is not to inform. It is simply to divert attention."

And why is Sporting being targeted again?

"Because they are not interested in talking about what needs to be discussed. Once again, I waited a few days to see if there would be any response, something that would explain what happened in Porto - Sporting. And I will let slide the fact that the delegation entered, passed by fans who, if their sleeves had just been rolled up, were not offending, insulting, and threatening the players, the president, the staff, and the coach. I'm not talking about the air conditioning, the locker room decor. That, to me, is of little relevance."

But weren't the kisses you blew to the fans a provocative act?

"No, it was not provocative. Look: I was taught from a young age that the best response to hate is love. That's all. Regarding those three episodes, I’ll let them slide. It even motivates the opposing teams, it shows small-mindedness and a lack of noble character. When Sporting hosts, whether it’s the 1st place team, which in this case is Porto, or anyone else, it is with all possible dignity. That’s how I like to compete, how Sporting likes to compete. The statements, which are strings of lies, and have been since the Porto game, have only one objective: to avoid talking about what matters. And what happened to Rui Silva's towels? Three towels were needed. I’ve never seen this. Twice the goalkeeper’s towels were stolen during the game. And after Porto’s goal, all the ball boys took away the cones and the balls. And this, gentlemen, you no longer see in peripheral Europe. You only see this in Africa."

"I think you should know that Porto’s president belongs to the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. Attention. I would like you to ask Porto’s president if he suggests, at the elite level of football, stealing the balls when you’re winning 1-0. Then, taking away the goalkeeper’s towel. Is this what he proposes? In the UEFA Committee? I have a suggestion for Porto’s president. Do this now in the Europa League round of 16. You know that here they play around with the Disciplinary Council. The Fábio Veríssimo case seems to be over. Porto was fined more than 12,000 euros for what happened. You had access to FC Porto’s justification. It was a mere oversight. Oversight why? Because Porto analyzes, during the first half, the controversial refereeing incidents and sends them to the coaches. And don’t they also evaluate incidents from youth games? From a Braga - Porto youth game... They also analyze youth games. This is the justification from the Disciplinary Council. Look. They lie. They lie. I thought the justification would be ‘the president didn’t know.’ But no. There is lying."

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