FPF launches Stop à Violência, Proença vows safer game from next season | OneFootball

The Portuguese Football Federation has launched Stop à Violência, a weekend appeal across the two professional leagues and three federation competitions. Pedro Proença said the game must unite to confront violence.

According to Glorioso 1904, the campaign was unveiled at Arena FPF on Wednesday, with Proença saying it was time for football to say enough. He cited recent attacks on referees, players, officials, supporters and even children’s matches.

Arguing it was impossible not to act, he said the FPF would move from words to action and pledged that from next season the environment would be safer for everyone, from supporters to players, coaches and referees.

Players’ union president Joaquim Evangelista placed the issue beyond sport, warning that a culture of hate speech has taken hold and spilled over from politics. He urged active sporting citizenship.

He appealed to Benfica, Sporting and Porto to set higher standards, saying the most influential must meet the highest demands because they shape the majority of fans and citizens. He argued much of the violence stems from club rhetoric.

Evangelista said he had high hopes for new leaders, naming Rui Costa, André Villas-Boas and Frederico Varandas, but saw old habits persist. He called for a change in tone that filters to the pitch and harms referees most.

Source: Glorioso 1904