PORQUE DEI ''SOPA'' NOS CURRUPTOS...

FOI POR ISTO:

POR ISTO:

Porto Aberdeen 1984 Cup Winners Cup

"Portugal is another hotbed of allegations. What started this winter with published insults between high officials has led to specific claims against Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the most powerful man in Portuguese sports.

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His club, Porto, is a quarterfinalist in the UEFA Champions' League. His reign as president of Porto and head of the Portuguese league and the referees commission leads to periodic accusations of vested interests.

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However, Fernando Barata, a hotelier who once presided at the Farense club, has named names. He cited the 1984 Cup Winners Cup semifinal, charging that Pinto da Costa bribed Ion Igna with $50,000 to smooth Porto's victory over the Scottish team Aberdeen."

By Rob Hughes, International Herald Tribune (Wednesday, January 15, 1997)

POR ISTO:

ld cases (by Daily Express)

"Over the years, suspicious refereeing has been associated with various referees in Portugal favoring FC Porto. Nothing has been proven, but there have been some strong indications that the allegations are true.

FC Porto’s title in 92-93 was marred by some dubious results. One that stands out was a 1-0 away victory at Famalicao in which the referee at the time allowed over six minutes of injury time in a game with no injuries and no prolonged stoppages. Of course, FC Porto scored in the sixth minute of injury time. This game followed several away victories in which FC Porto received the benefit of the doubt on several calls in previous away matches.

The scandals of 1996 then put the referee situation in full view. First, FC Porto was caught paying vacation trips to Brazil taken by former referee Carlos Calheiros. FC Porto’s travel agency used the referee’s two middle names to identify his account. How is a referee to remain partial when one team is paying for his and his family’s vacations abroad? The consequence was Mr. Calheiro’s nomination for president of the referee’s union being denied, and no punishment was given to FC Porto.

Later it was discovered that a member of the Porto’s front office approached the referee of the semi-final Cupwinner’s Cup between Porto and Aberdeen in 1984 and attempted to bribe him to facilitate Porto’s scoring chances. Porto went on to win 3-0 without any controversial calls. It turns out they didn’t need the help. They ended up losing the finals to Juventus 2-1.

The referee association and unions have become centers for controversy and suspicion in the election of its leaders and presidents. It seems that the stronger districts such as Porto’s are able to influence votes for their candidates. In turn those elected appoint the referees for the matches. A proposed lottery system in the selection of the referees was quickly dismissed. Therefore the end result is the ability to have certain referees cover certain matches. "

Daily Express, 2002

E POR ISTO:

- ''Toda a gente sabe que o FCP compra campeonatos como quem vai ao super-mercado!''

(Sir Alex  Fergunson)

P.S. Mistério desvendado!