André Villas-Boas: “To defend football is to defend FC Porto” | OneFootball

The editorial of the magazine Dragões is signed by André Villas-Boas.

“In a context of external pressures, dubious interests, and attempts at recentralization, FC Porto reaffirms its commitment to sporting truth, financial transparency, and the strength of its supporters.

The regular and active participation of Futebol Clube do Porto in forums reflecting on football and its industry is not limited to mere representation. It is, rather, the materialization of our responsibility in the world of sports – and football in particular – as well as our strategic vision in the face of the complex national and global situation, in an industry where sporting success is constantly under enormous financial pressure and threatened by a suffocating temptation of regulatory entropy.

Thus, FC Porto was recently represented, with relevant interventions, at the General Assembly of European Football Clubs, the UEFA Competitions Committee, the EY European Football Stadium Financing Summit, the UEFA Certificate in Football Management, and the Portugal Football Summit organized by the FPF.

Football is at a crossroads full of challenges that even question, in various aspects, its integrity. We witness movements seeking to impose environments permeable to illegitimate interests, distorting the truth of the competition. To the interests of investors of dubious origin, who persist in trying to force their way into Portuguese football, the fog hanging in the air over sports betting by direct participants in the game, as we recently saw in the case of the NBA and Turkish football, adds a national partisanship that increasingly allows centralism to settle shamelessly, whether by riding on a saturated media system that pollutes more than it clarifies, or through “holy alliances” on the second circular aimed at weakening FC Porto, its values, and principles.

The centralization of audiovisual rights, the inability of structures linked to the organization of competitions and refereeing to consistently value sporting truth, the trafficking of underage players, the multi-ownership of clubs, or the origin of dubious capital in sports companies are topics and fronts where we must be vigilant and active.

Faced with this scenario, FC Porto assumes an unnegotiable responsibility to be an active and consequential agent. Our status as a reference European club, forged in sporting achievements, a globally recognized reputation, and a history of being involved in critical discussions for the evolution of football and its industry for decades, gives us the authority to intervene in major structural discussions about the future of football:

– Centralization of Audiovisual Rights: The main European leagues operate with centralized models and distribution rules that combine equal share, sporting merit, and market variables (audiences, social impact, quality of infrastructure, and training projects). Any proposal must adopt these best practices to the Portuguese reality and the goal of competitive convergence, knowing in advance that Sports Societies must unite with the Government in combating piracy, which is fundamentally the biggest obstacle to creating greater value for the global revenue package to be obtained with centralization.

– Structural Sustainability Model: Our management case study is our best weapon. We were pioneers and today, in a renewed way, we demonstrate that financial success and accounting rigor are not antagonistic vectors, but an obligation. The Dragon Notes operation is now “copied” by our biggest rivals. FC Porto is pleased to have placed the name of the Portuguese football industry alongside heavyweight partners in international banking, with vision and scope in the restructuring and solidification of Sports Societies. In debates on structural reforms, we will insist that the future of football involves more transparent management practices, compliance with financial fair play, and the defense of the integrity of competitions, and not chronic indebtedness or the creation of privilege structures, contrary to fair competition and sports values.

– Defense of Competitive Justice: FC Porto will continue to raise its firm and dissonant voice against any action aimed at distorting sporting performance and strict compliance with existing norms. To date, and once again, we can say that, to this day, VAR technology in Portugal continues not to function to its full capacity in many stadiums of the Professional Leagues. Amateurism drags on and it is precisely here that we need strong and visionary leadership. We want to believe in open competition, in ascension based on effort and quality, demonstrating value on the field, supported by the best technology available to support better decision-making by referees and thus ensure sporting truth. Our presence in decision-making bodies is a guarantee that sporting merit will always be defended uncompromisingly, even when it does not find support in national bodies, it will surely find it internationally, where FC Porto’s voice is respected and recognized. In this context, we are preparing for a week of great mental gymnastics by sports commentators between the unawarded penalty at Dragão for Deniz Gül’s shirt pull, and the awarded penalty in Moreira de Cónegos for Victor Froholdt’s shirt pull. Now FC Porto knows that the weight of the blue and white shirt and its pink shirt is the same, but prefers not to comment on the weight of others’ shirts.

– Preservation of Passion and Identity: The essence of football lies in valuing the athlete, the team, and the game to meet the aspirations of Members and Supporters. FC Porto has the duty to ensure that the evolution of football respects and enhances club identity, the connection to the supporter, the emotion of the stands, which are the true capital of this Club.

All movements contrary to this way of being and living football will be fought by us, in words and actions. Therefore, do not be surprised that our presences and interventions are noticed.

It was this way of being, and the perseverance that motivates us, that made it possible in a short period to create the conditions to present in this 2024/2025 exercise such stimulating accounts. We managed to achieve – even without participating in the Champions League, where we will do everything to be next season – a consolidated net result of €39.2 million, the best result ever for our SAD. These results are not just numbers; they represent the restoration of confidence, the validation of competence, and proof that FC Porto has regained control over its destiny. This is the first step to being sure that we are on a winning path.

Transitioning to the immediate reality of the field, without getting carried away, the crucial phase of the season we are in requires absolute commitment from all of us, Portistas. After the victory in Moreira de Cónegos, difficult games against SC Braga and Famalicão are approaching, with a trip to Utrecht in between.

The culture of victory that we are made of must be lived daily, non-negotiably. An entire structure works, based on a clear strategy, to create the best working conditions, so we always demand maximum loyalty, seriousness, discipline, and professionalism from our athletes. But it is also imperative that they feel the burning passion and unconditional and massive support from all of you, in the streets, in those forums, on social networks, in the stands, even when we suffer a setback.

As our coach Francesco Farioli very aptly said, in his mother tongue, we are a “famiglia”. The Portista family.

Edition 467 of Dragões will soon arrive at FC Porto Stores. Until then, it is available in its digital version. It is easy and free.

It is in this granite union that our difference lies. We will not allow threats, insinuations, or media or other pressures to affect our purpose of winning. Let us look at the challenges with the determination that our History deserves and the future demands of us. If determination is our brand, demand is our daily method.

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