Court agrees with the president of V. Guimarães for criticizing the referee

António Miguel Cardoso, president of Vitória de Guimarães, was suspended for a month by the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) for criticizing the referee of the game in Paços de Ferreira. Judgment of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) revoked the punishment, but the FPF can still appeal the decision.

The TAD agreed with the president of Vitória de Guimarães, António Miguel Cardoso, who appealed the one-month punishment applied by the FPF Disciplinary Board in November 2022, following criticism, on the eve of the game, of the refereeing team, led by Nuno Almeida, nominated for the visit of the Guimarães to Paços de Ferreira, for the 9th round of the League.

Although the TAD judgment is favorable to the Victorian leader’s claims, the case is not closed, since the FPF can still appeal the decision.

At stake are statements by the president of Vitória de Guimarães to “Grupo Santiago”, in which he spoke about the referee of the match at Paços de Ferreira’s home, the Algarvean Nuno Almeida.

“The referee who was appointed for this game was the same one who refereed us in Braga. At the time, I spoke with Architect Souto Moura to discuss the problems of the slope of the stadium’s turf, I hope I don’t have to talk to Architect Valdemar Leão about the possible slope of the pitch at Paços de Ferreira. I hope not. I want to believe that things will go well. We are apprehensive, but with a lot of desire to go to Paços de Ferreira to win a good result”, said António Miguel Cardoso, on the occasion .

In addition to the month of suspension, the leader was also fined 3570 euros for the statements made.