The new president of FC Porto, André Villas-Boas, criticized this Saturday the management of the previous Pinto da Costa administration, given the risk of being excluded from European football competitions due to non-compliance with UEFA Financial Fair Play.
“The confirmed sanction is due to the reckless and ineffective actions of management, for which members of the previous management of the club and its sports society are solely responsible and which resulted in non-compliance with UEFA Financial Fair Play rules, namely failure to comply with financial controls, payments relating to employees, tax authorities / social security and football clubs,” the newly appointed management of the former Blaugrana coach confirmed in a statement published in the club’s media.
On Friday, UEFA announced that FC Porto had been fined €1.5 million and banned from continental competitions for one season, which would be suspended for a probationary period of two years and would only apply if the club failed to comply your obligations. solvency requirements for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.
“It should be noted that the sanction applied was particularly serious due to the repeated failure to comply with these rules, as well as the provision of incorrect and incomplete information to UEFA as part of the procedure,” the Dragons continued. ‘.
The new management warns that the punishment “was officially notified to the club on April 19”, eight days before the most competitive election in Porto’s history, which saw Andre Villas-Boas defeat Pinto da Costa, president for 42 years and 15 years. consecutive terms.
“Despite the current difficulties, the new elected management will do everything possible to ensure that all rules and regulations to which the club is subject, including those relating to UEFA fair play, are strictly observed at all times,” they acknowledged.
The club’s new governing body took office almost two weeks ago, but the transfer of powers to SAD will not be completed until May 28, two days after the decision of the Portuguese Cup, in which Porto, winners of the last two seasons, will face recent champions Sporting. “at the Nacional stadium in Oeiras.
The meeting with the Lions will end the Dragons’ season and will mark Pinto da Costa’s farewell as President of the SAD, a position he has held since 1997, the year of the creation of this society, which bears responsibility for the leadership of the “blue” of professional football is white.”
“Management will conduct an internal and external investigation into the reasons why the club suffered this sanction and will determine the appropriate responsibility of the people involved, both for repeated non-compliance and omissions of facts,” Villas-Boas’ management warned. .
Porto remains in third place in Liga I with 69 points and can now guarantee direct access to the group stage of the 2024/25 Europa League if they do not lose away to fourth-placed Sporting Braga. , with 68, in the 34th and final round, which is scheduled for 20:30 at the Municipal Stadium of Braga and will close the competition of the 2023/24 season.
In addition to the Dragons, UEFA imposed sanctions on Arsenalist for 40,000 euros and Vitória de Guimarães for 200,000 euros, as well as a ban from European competition, which was suspended conditionally for one season due to violations of financial fair play. ‘ UEFA club.
Porto, Vitória de Guimarães and Sporting de Braga were three of the 11 clubs punished by the continental football regulator that did not appeal these disciplinary decisions resulting from three stages of assessment: in July and October 2023 and in January 2024.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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