FC Porto to journalists’ union: Document is standard practice | OneFootball

FC Porto rejected the criticisms from the Journalists’ Union, arguing that the liability waiver required from photographers at matches in Estádio do Dragão does not infringe the Press Law or the Journalist Statute. “The adoption of this document does not, under any circumstances, conflict with the press law or the journalist statute, nor is it intended to censor professionals or media outlets, strictly respecting the applicable legal, ethical, and deontological frameworks,” reads a statement from the ‘blues and whites’.

The Journalists’ Union urged photojournalists to refuse the conditions imposed by the club, recalling that these professionals are already covered by the law and the relevant codes of ethics. In a statement, the Union described as “unacceptable the document that FC Porto wants to force photojournalists to sign in order to work at the club’s sporting events, namely at matches in Estádio do Dragão.”

At the center of the controversy is the requirement for prior signing of a liability waiver for the accreditation of photographers at the ‘blue and white’ club’s matches, a measure which, according to FC Porto, aims to “safeguard professional dignity, editorial purpose, and the legitimate exercise of the activity by duly qualified photojournalists.”

The club states that it only accredits photographers who hold a Professional Card and work for media outlets. The new rule comes in response to cases where, despite being accredited, some professionals use their presence for commercial activities, such as selling images to third parties or carrying out unauthorized broadcasts—including streaming—deviating from the strictly editorial purpose that legitimizes accreditation.

The Union emphasized that the “Professional Journalist Card, whose issuance frames professionals within the fulfillment of ethical, deontological, and legal requirements, is sufficient for granting accreditations for public events,” adding that “it is the only criterion the Union can accept to guarantee journalists’ access.” The Union also reminded that journalists are already subject to the press law, the journalist statute, and the ethical and deontological code that guides the profession.

For its part, FC Porto stressed that “the aforementioned liability waiver aims to clarify duties and responsibilities, protecting the legitimate journalistic activity and ensuring that the accreditation granted by FC Porto is used exclusively for editorial purposes,” and that “it should be clear that this document does not limit or restrict, in any way, the legitimate exercise of the photojournalist profession. It is a common practice—citing the example of UEFA, but also ACP and WRC, organizers of the Rally of Portugal—so it believes that ‘it will be well received by media outlets and their professionals, representing a positive contribution so that sports information—conveyed through images—continues to be characterized, at the national level, by the quality, rigor, and integrity for which it is recognized.’”

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