Threatening to Reign - The Power of the Force

Here is a brief list of events which demonstrate beyond doubt, how Mr. Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, became the most important president in FCP’s history. What happens to come before our eyes are the won titles, which seems to be what really matters. Because whatever lies behind the dark curtains of Portuguese football... Well… It seems that it never happened!

· 1983: A certain number of journalists are not allowed to have access to the Antas stadium because of certain statements which they published;

· 1985: every single reporter from the newspaper "Record” was banned from the Antas’ Stadium.

· 20/11/1988: Carlos Pinhão, an important Portuguese sports press journalist, is brutally attacked in Aveiro, after the game Beira-Mar vs. FC Porto, by elements linked to FCP. The case was dropped just because there was "lack of evidence". On the same day that Carlos Pinhão was attacked, Martins Morim became the target of FCP angry supporters. Amongst the offenders stood out one Tónio Maluco, a well-known FC Porto fan. A notorious police officer (Officer Abel) simply said to the general press: “it was better than falling off a cliff“.

· Also in 1988, a journalist is assaulted by a player in FC Porto’s official van.

· 5/03/1989, Eugénio Queiroz, Record’s reporter, was attacked in the Restelo stadium by Mr. Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa´s personal security personnel. Violently pushed out of the corridor leading to FC Porto changing room, the journalist would eventually place a complaint in the police but unexpectedly he was: "not able to identify the perpetrators"

· 24/09/1989, João Freitas, A Bola’s journalist, was, brutally attacked near Antas Stadium´s changing rooms. He was medically assisted at St. António Hospital and was able to identify Vergilio Jesus and another person only known as Armando amongst the aggressors. Nevertheless, the complaint was filed because the main witness, the police officer present at the events Oliveira Pinto, said he did not remember anything.

· 4/10/1990, the day before the game Portdown vs. FC Porto, Manuela Davis of the newspaper “Público” was threatened and insulted at the hotel lobby by members of FC Porto’s delegation.

· 24/10/1990, João Saraiva, Director of newspaper “Jornal de Notícias”, is attacked at his own house’s doorstep by two individuals. The “Jornal de Notícias” had published a news story involving Pinto da Costa in the famous case “Aveirogate”. A proper lawsuit was never filed.

· 01/09/1992; António Paulino, “Expresso´s” journalist was attacked at the newspaper oporto’s delegation. According to him, the perpetrators were Pinto da Costa and the son of Joaquim Pinheiro. They wanted to know who responsible for a newspaper article regarding to a lawsuit against Alexandre Pinto da Costa.

· Also in 1992, every single journalist was prohibited from having access to the Antas Stadium.

· October 1992, Pinto da Costa undervalues the attacks on journalists.

· 10/03/1993 RTP’s (Portuguese national television) staff, Paulo Martins and Pedro Figueiredo, assaulted at the pitch. The reporter Paulo Martins was at the pitch making the final remarks related to the match between FC Porto 0 Famalicão 1, when two unidentified members of the public entered the pitch and attacked both the reporter and the technician. Actually these events were recorded because the program was still on live broadcast. Millions of people witnessed it but the reporter himself or RTP did file any complain. But the words uttered by Pedro Figueiredo, while he was being hit, still resonate and will never be forgotten: "I am about to be hit by a man (...), I have been assaulted live on tv”.

· Also in 1993, Pedro Figueiredo, was attacked at Bessa’s Stadium at the end of Boavista vs. FC Porto. No complaint was filed once again because the company (RTP) did not authorize.

· 11/12/1994, Marinho Neves reporter of “Gazeta dos Desportos” and author of the book regarding to the corruption in the referee world “Golpe de Estadio” is ambushed at the doorstep of his own house by two individuals. The case was dropped by the police for lack of evidence, although there were five witnesses which were never called to testify, although there was one picture taken which shows at least one of the aggressors.

· 1994, a journalist was assaulted at Antas’ stadium.

· 2007. FC Porto’s Dutch head coach Co Adriaanse, found his car burning outside the club’s training facilities. Pinto da Costa was not quite pleased with the team’s response that year. Therefore he decided to unleash his hunger through the hands of the members of one of his clubs support group: Super dragões.

· Football players as Adriano and Paulo Assunção had close violent encounters with the very same group. Adriano didn’t want to be placed in another team. Paulo didn’t want to renew is contract. They were physically attacked and also were told to do what the president wanted them to do otherwise they would suffer deadly consequences. Adriano ended up going to an unknown place and Paulo stood his ground and as soon as his contract ended, he went to Spain’s Atletico de Madrid.

Marinho Neves, kept on doing is work and was targeted once again: His car’s wheels were loosened and he nearly had a fatal accident.

Valdemar Duarte, a tv reporter was insulted by the president of FC Porto and beaten by the staff…

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