Jeremiah St. Juste

Sporting Clube de Portugal categorically deny the serious and unacceptable insinuations expressed in the statement released yesterday on social media by Jeremiah St. Juste.

The club emphasise that the player, and those close to him, were kept informed at all times about the developments regarding his present and future at Sporting CP, as evidenced by the player's own post.

In this regard, it is also important to clarify that the technical decision alluded to by the player was personally communicated to him while he was at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo at 1 p.m., and, furthermore, his inclusion on the list of players registered for the UEFA Champions League speaks for itself.

Sporting CP condemn the attempt to jeopardise the integrity of the institution and its executives, and make clear that we will not hesitate to pursue all legal actions at our disposal to establish the truth and ensure the stability necessary to achieve the team's objectives.

Successful appeal against suspensions

Sporting CP were today notified of the ruling handed down by the TAD, as part of process no. 67/2024, concluding that the club have been successful in their appeal against suspensions to players Nuno Santos and Matheus Reis.

The Disciplinary Commision had previously sentenced Sporting CP player Nuno Santos to an eight-game suspension for actions in the Super Taça game held at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.

Although we welcome the TAD's decision, Sporting SAD feel it appropriate to criticise the frivolous way in which the then FPF Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend a player for close to a quarter of the main national competition, the effects of which, by luck or misfortune, were only negated due to a serious injury suffered by the player.

Sporting SAD hope that the new federative appointments to the FPF Disciplinary Committee represent a turning point, bringing a more considered and sensible approach to a fundamental activity to guarantee the fairness of competitions.

Hugo Viana

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD inform that Hugo Viana has been granted an early departure from the club, initially scheduled for the end of the current season.
Upon request and by mutual understanding, Viana ceased his duties as sporting director of Sporting CP after the closure of the winter transfer window.

Viana played a fundamental role in the club's sporting growth during a period that included two Liga Portugal titles, three Taca da Liga trophies, one Portuguese Super Taça and one Taça de Portugal.

The president of Sporting CP, Frederico Varandas, comments that: “Hugo Viana's work over these past few years was fundamental to the realisation of a solid, winning sports project. He played a crucial role in building a team that broke barriers and marked one of the most memorable phases in our club’s recent history.”

The new general director of football, Bernardo Palmeiro and the technical and scouting director, Flávio Costa, begin their new roles with immediate effect.

João Pereira

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD announce that coach João Pereira has returned to the role of B Team coach, and took charge of Thursday's training session.

The club would like to thank Pedro Coelho for his professionalism over the years as coach at youth football and B team level, and wish him every success for the future.

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD announce that current Sporting Director Hugo Viana will move on to work for Manchester City FC from the 2025/26 season.

This process began several months ago and has seen important developments in recent weeks, having been monitored from the beginning by the Sporting CP board.

During this period, Sporting CP have been planning and preparing a new organisational structure at the club, with the role of Sporting Director ceasing to exist.

Bernardo Palmeiro, who between 2020 and 2023 provided executive advice to the board and football department at Sporting CP, will take on the role of Director of Football next season and, together with the current Scouting Director, Flávio Costa, will report directly to the President, Frederico Varandas.

Sporting CP will continue to benefit from Hugo Viana's full commitment until the last minute of the final game this season, and he will be involved in the transition process to the future organisational model.

Sporting CP acknowledge the central role that Viana played in creating a high-level professional structure in the club's football department, and are determined to continue the path of growth and success seen in recent seasons.

Following the recently released story in which two former Rio Ave FC players confirmed in court that they had received proposals to lose games against SL Benfica, Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol SAD reiterate that the truth of sport cannot be distorted criminal behaviour.

This is yet another process in which serious aspects put into question the good name, functioning and reputation of Portuguese football. Corruption and bribery of players tarnish the veracity of competition.

Sporting SAD have considered, after due analysis, that the Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation contained facts about César Boaventura's close relationship with Benfica SAD that should have been investigated, having requested hierarchical intervention. The Public Prosecutor's Office maintained its initial stance, in which it supported closing the case regarding Benfica SAD, based on a lack of evidence.

It is essential that justice does its job and that crimes – and all those involved in them – are  punished exemplarily, for the sake of truth and for the sake of the public perception that fans have of football and institutions. We must legitimise, once and for all, our national sport and fight against the crimes that continue to bring shame upon the institutions.

The club react to the extraordinary general meeting of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol

As part of the extraordinary general meeting of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol that took place this Wednesday, Sporting Clube de Portugal understand that the majority of delegates present -33- decided not to commit to any of the opinions presented on the awarding of national league titles.

Such a vote clearly demonstrates that the majority consider that it is up to the board of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol to take this important decision on Portuguese football.

Sporting Clube de Portugal applaud this outcome, as they consider that this is a scientific and legal decision and not one of a subjective nature, at risk of biases that may interfere with its objectivity.

Sporting Clube de Portugal understand that, with the decision being up to the Federation and objectivity prevailing, the only possible deliberation will be the recognition that -as corroborated by the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol in the commemorative book of the 75th anniversary of the FPF - Sporting Clube de Portugal should be awarded 23 league titles.

For this reason, Sporting Clube de Portugal reiterate that they will continue to fight so that Portuguese football can finally overcome historical ignorance and restore the rightful amount of titles to the club.

The Sporting CP president addresses the incidents in the game against FC Porto

The president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Frederico Varandas, spoke after the game between FC Porto and Sporting CP, expressing his displeasure with what happened on and off the field of play at the Estádio do Dragão.

“I will soon be 43 years old, and this game reflects what the last 40 years of Portuguese football have been like. It reflects how the last 40 years for FC Porto under Pinto da Costa have been. What surprises me the most is to see mayors and distinguished politicians in attendance, all of them turning a blind eye to yet another decadent and horrible spectacle in a country that wants to be part of the European Union and of the First World.

Here, at the end of the game, we saw members of the organisation of the event, wearing blue bibs -and there is footage of this- invading the pitch and attacking players.
This is the worst thing in sport in Portugal, but nobody has the courage to do something about it. It is treated like something normal.

(...) I have praised the refereeing, but João Pinheiro is not at all prepared for this. I don't know if it was because of the pandemic and him being used to refereeing without spectators in attendance, but I don't know if he is prepared to referee a game of this pressure with an audience. I would like to say that it's not enough to reach the interval and apologise to the players and to Hugo Viana, saying that Coates shouldn't have been shown a yellow. The player fouled was Coates and he was the one who was shown the yellow card -and then that becomes decisive in him being sent off.

Sporting CP played with one player less in the second half, when FC Porto were never going to turn the game around. Then we had a ridiculous yellow for Palhinha and the referee also apologises for it, saying that it was not a booking. This referee doesn't have the courage to referee in such an environment. Unfortunately the game ended up with a spectacle that was depressing.

I wish to make an appeal: I am an army officer and I hope that there are GNR officers who report everything they have seen today. The 40 years of Pinto da Costa were very well demonstrated here in this game, but this is not the same Sporting CP of the last 40 years.

In April we will be here in the semifinal of the Taça de Portugal, and if they have to bring in fans acting like cheerleaders as ballboys, then so be it."

In view of the news coming to the public yesterday and today, Sporting SAD informs the following:

1. In 2016, upon the transfer of player João Mário from Sporting CP to FC Internazionale Milano, the Italian club and the player himself agreed to make an additional payment of €30,000,000 in the event of the player subsequently being registered to a Portuguese club, including SL Benfica;
2. As has been made public, yesterday FC Internazionale Milano and João Mário agreed to terminate, by mutual consent, the employment contract that legally bound them, so that the player could immediately sign for SL Benfica. This was after FC Internazionale Milano had refused an offer from Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD for the player in question;
3. It is the conviction of the Board of Directors of Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD that a contractual expedient was used, through which Inter and João Mário sought to bypass the terms of the agreement signed with Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD in 2016;
4. This expedient only illustrates that all parties knew the obligations they assumed in 2016 and which, after 5 years, they have now intended to avoid;
5. Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD will not publicly comment further on this situation, which has arisen as SL Benfica aims to divert uncomfortable attention from other current affairs;
6. However, the club will not neglect to defend the interests of Sporting Clube de Portugal, holding the intervening parties responsible for the damages caused and for the non-fulfilment of the agreed obligations.

Rúben Amorim absolved of wrongdoing

Sporting Clube de Portugal wish to express our approval of the absolution of coach Rúben Amorim, regarding the accusations to which he was unfairly subjected during many months of pressure and the threat of an unfair disciplinary process.

However, we must make clear that this case was unprecedented in our league, and express our astonishment at the procedure (albeit only partially undertaken) and the fact that it was only concluded after the end of the Liga NOS season. Sporting Clube de Portugal guarantee that we will appeal against the decision to close the Estádio José Alvalade for one game.

Thus, taking into account the disciplinary proceedings taken against Rúben Amorim and Sporting Clube de Portugal, we wish to communicate the following:

    1. Within the scope of Disciplinary Process No. 87 - 2019/2020 (in which coach Rúben Amorim and Sporting Clube de Portugal were accused of fraud and making false statements), the Disciplinary Board decided unanimously:

“a) To acquit Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim and Sporting Clube de Portugal, with respect to the practice, respectively, of the disciplinary offences in article 133 (False declarations and fraud] and in article 83 [Fraud in contracts] of the RDLPFP20.

b) To reject, under the provisions of article 234, paragraph 3, subparagraph a), of the RDLPFP20, the disciplinary process involving Sporting Clube de Portugal, regarding the disciplinary offence in article 96-A (Coaching without minimum qualifications] of the RDLPFP20.

c) To acquit Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim of the disciplinary infraction in article 141. (Non-compliance with other duties) of the RDLPFP20, in reference to articles 3, 5, paragraph 1, 12, 14, 18, paragraph 1, 19. º, no. 1), 25th, no. 1, of Law no. 40/2012, of 28.08, as amended by Law no. 106/2019, of 06.09, in conjunction with the provisions of article 82, nº1) of the RCLPFP20, due to the result of the disciplinary procedure;

d) To penalise Sporting Clube de Portugal for the disciplinary infraction in article 118. (Qualified non-compliance with other duties) of the RDLPFP20, in reference to articles 3.º, 5.º, n.º 1, 12.º, 14.º, 18.º, n.º 1, 19.º, n.º 1, al. c), 25.º, n.º 2, of Law no. 40/2012, of 28.08, as amended by Law no. 106/2019, on 06.09, in conjunction with the provisions of article 82, no º 1, al. a) of the RCLPFP20. The sanction is the closing of the the stadium for 1 (one) game and a penalty set at 9,563.00 € (nine thousand five hundred and sixty-three euros).”

    2. Sporting Clube de Portugal welcome the rejection of the case with respect to the allegations of False Declarations and Fraud, and Fraud in the signing of contracts, which we have always considered to have not existed;

    3. Likewise, we welcome the rejection of the case regarding the accusation of having filled coaching positions without the minimum qualifications, as it was understood that this accusation was equally unfounded;

    4. With regard to the aforementioned in paragraph c), above, Sporting Clube de Portugal continue to defend that coach Rúben Amorim did not violate any regulatory norm and, to that extent, regret that he did not have the opportunity to fully demonstrate his innocence due to the verdict of the procedure;   

    5. Regarding subparagraph d), above, Sporting Clube de Portugal publicly express our complete disagreement with the penalty closing our stadium for a game and a fine of € 9,563.00 (nine thousand five hundred and sixty-six three euros) and inform that, at the opportune moment, we will appeal this decision to the Sports Arbitration Court.

Finally, Sporting Clube de Portugal express our continued support to coach Rúben Amorim, who worked during a substantial part of the past season under the threat of an unfair disciplinary process, as the decision made public yesterday fully proves. The unity of all those around the team in pursuit of our objectives, and the conviction of all Sportinguistas of the innocence of Rúben Amorim were also decisive in the outcome of the season.