“My lawyers are already dealing with the situation in Spain and will do everything that needs to be done. If I need to take a break from football, and leave everything to prove everything I’m saying, I’ll do it, because my honor, and who I am as a man and as a father, is much more important than any sporting career”, said Sérgio Conceição, this Tuesday, at Olival.
The coach appeared to be “very worn out” by the whole situation and the media coverage of the case, and decided to speak out publicly so that the issue does not dominate the press conference to preview the game with Estoril, scheduled for Friday. .
“I am truly exhausted by this situation, because it involves me, my children, my family, and the families of the young athletes who were present. I am incredulous to know that the person who lost control was a local mayor who should have responsibilities and duties towards the citizens. He attacked a 22-year-old man several times who happens to be my son [Moisés]”, stated the dragons coach.
The mayor in question is Manuel Barroso, mayor of Cartaya, who accused Sérgio Conceição of attacking, threatening and insulting, something that the coach refutes and guarantees he has witnesses. “He entered into a series of lies and accusations, practically all of which were denied by those present, both Portuguese and Spanish. It caused enormous damage to my family, the families of the players themselves, the tournament itself and the city”, he added.
Sérgio Conceição hopes that the stadium’s video surveillance images will be released, guaranteeing that this will “prove all the lies that this gentleman uttered and show that the only person who was aggressive and committed acts of indiscipline in front of everyone was this mayor”.
The coach also revealed what he said to the match referee when he entered the pitch, guaranteeing, once again, that there was no aggression. “At the end of the game, there were families celebrating with the kids who won the tournament, in this case Sevilha, and there were our boys from FC Porto who were a little more disappointed and sad (…). The referee picks up the bag and comes calmly to the dressing room and I approach him in a calm way, laughing to say ‘I could have awarded a penalty, which would have been more exciting, and finally go to penalties’. It was a joke until that mayor intervened”, described Sérgio Conceição.
The coach revealed that it was at that moment that the mayor “completely lost control and began to push aggressively, and then entered the tunnel [de acesso aos balneários] been even more aggressive.”
Sérgio Conceição revealed that the video showing the first sequence of events, still on the pitch, was sent to him by a young Spanish man who does scouting work and who was filming the game, and he guaranteed that the same video was not cut.
The FC Porto coach confessed to “being very sad about the situation” that involves him and his family, and recalled that he never had problems of this kind following his children’s football career. “I have always accompanied them on their journey until now. Two of my sons played for different clubs and rivals of FC Porto, and I was always respected whenever I went to visit them and watch some games, both in Seixal and Alcochete. I never had the least problem”, highlighted Sérgio Conceição.
