Sporting CP’s victory against Benfica with a score of 34-30 to qualify for Taça de Portugal’s Final Four was marred by controversy on Saturday. [expander_maker id=”1″ ] The Sporting club accuses Benfica’s coach, Chema Rodríguez, of assaulting the Sporting coach, Ricardo Costa, and reports of an attack on the Sporting team captain Salvador Salvador by a Benfica fan. This happened after the match.
The reported incident happened after a tense game of Handball between two of the best teams in Portugal. The post-match interviews included some back-and-forth between the two coaches, with Rodríguez indirectly accusing Ricardo Costa of lacking respect for the game when he demanded a timeout just a minute before the end of the game, with Sporting four points ahead. Rodríguez claimed that when the Sporting team itself considers it a lack of respect, it speaks for itself, their players apologizing for the whistle.
On the other hand, Ricardo Costa refuted the accusation of a lack of respect and said that he cannot indulge in such behavior that goes against his principles. He emphasized that it was a great game, and two great teams played with great players. He added that he did not appreciate the mal-entendido that disrupted the game’s goodwill and a positive outcome.
The physical altercation between Costa and Rodríguez escalated things and added to the controversy. Sporting CP’s statement condemned the incident and pointedly blamed Benfica’s coach for the attack. The statement emphasizes the extreme gravity of the situation and emphasizes the importance of values and respect, which they believe Rodriguez has failed to exhibit.
The statement further reports that Salvador Salvador, Sporting’s team captain, was also assaulted by a Benfica fan after the match, as the chaos erupted. Fortunately, the police quickly intervened and arrested the attacker.
Both Benfica and Sporting are among the most successful clubs in Portugal, and their rivalry has been one of the most hotly-contested in the world of football. However, the events that unfolded after the game were unacceptable and will taint the results of this prestigious sporting contest.[/expander_maker]
