Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP) president Pedro Proenza admitted this Friday that he would have resigned if the current ex-president of the General Assembly, Mário Costa, had not done so.
Pedro Proenza said he was “baffled” by the news of human trafficking involving now former leader Mario Costa and that the whole situation was completely unknown to him. He says he is going through the hardest days of his life right now.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Proenza stressed that ethics, transparency, credibility and suitability are more than just words or abstract concepts. “These are the principles that have always guided me in my personal and professional life and which I will never give up,” he says.
“The damage to the reputation potentially inflicted on the League of Portugal by seeing, albeit indirectly, a connection with news that has taken up a significant part of the media space, will make my succession as President of the Institution, if it lasts, unsustainable” . you can read.
The beginning of this week was marked by searches carried out by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) at the home of Mario Costa and at the Riba d’Ave gym in Famalicana on suspicion of human trafficking. The investigation took place on Monday.
The SEF released 36 boys, aged between 14 and 17, whom they found undocumented and with tight controls on their movements, at the Bsports Football Academy in Riba de Ave, Vila Nova de Famalicán. On Wednesday, Mario Costa announced his decision to retire.
The President of the League of Portugal assured that he would fight to maintain the authority of the institution. “We will strengthen our entire compliance policy and pre-qualification mechanisms for all members of the governing bodies, management, executive management and staff of the League of Portugal.
“I will fight, always and under all circumstances, for the credibility of an institution with 45 years of existence, which has coped with the most difficult tasks, proud to be the first Portuguese sports organization certified by the Anti-Corruption Management System Standard, in defense of all associated professional clubs of the League of Portugal and about 130 employees who proudly wear the jersey of this house every day,” concluded Pedro Proenza.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.