FPF disciplinary board drops case against FC Porto after Benfica complaint | OneFootball

The Disciplinary Council (CD) of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has decided to close the disciplinary proceedings brought against FC Porto, following a complaint filed by Benfica regarding incidents that took place during the match between the two teams at the Estádio da Luz on March 8. At issue was the behavior of an FC Porto supporter, who was filmed in the stands showing an image of a monkey on his mobile phone and mimicking that animal’s gestures toward Benfica supporters.

According to the CD ruling, “it must be concluded that the investigation produced no evidence that the gesture in question, being an isolated act in the away section, was perceived at the time by any sporting official connected to the Defendant. Moreover, not even the League delegates or the security forces appear to have noticed the episode, which is not described in any official report. The Investigators’ Committee rightly concluded that the defining element of the disciplinary offense attributed to the Defendant was not met, insofar as the mere fact that the club did not later take a public stance of repudiation does not amount to the promotion, consent, or tolerance required under article 113 of the RDLPFP.”

The document adds that the application of article 113 of the RDLPFP “requires proof that the club promoted, consented to, or tolerated the display of banners, the chanting of racist slogans, or, more generally, any behavior that violates human dignity on the basis of race, language, religion, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation. The mere absence of a subsequent public position condemning or repudiating an isolated act in the stands does not, in itself, satisfy this defining element.”

The same text also states that “as highlighted in the Final Report of the Investigators’ Committee, the conduct in question is capable of meeting the objective elements of the disciplinary offense provided for in article 187(1)(b) of the RDLPFP (Improper behavior by the public). However, the facts now reported amount to the same breach of duties by the Defendant, following conduct of the same kind and revealing the same failure by its supporters to internalize those legal-sporting values (discriminatory chants), with reference to the same match, for which it has already been sanctioned in summary proceedings.” This means that FC Porto had already been punished in that match due to chants by its supporters against Benfica.

Benfica may now appeal the decision to the FPF’s Council of Justice or to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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