Sporting Lisbon have been hitting the sports headlines around the globe but for all the wrong reasons. The recent horrific attack by a masked gang at their world-famous Alcochete Academy, where the likes of Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Dier learnt their trade, has been condemned unilaterally.
Police have also conducted searches of Sporting premises and made arrests for alleged “active corruption in sport” as part of an operation codenamed “Cashball”.
Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho’s right-hand man and team director, André Geraldes, was among those detained.
Geraldes is suspected of match-fixing by allegedly bribing referees and players, mostly in handball matches, but also in six football games.
Failure to qualify for the Champions League will cost the club millions in lost revenue and a 2-1 defeat by lowly Desportivo das Aves in the Portugal Cup has shaken this famous club to the core.
Bruno de Carvalho is under increasing pressure to step down after his open criticism of coach Jorge Jesus and the players. He launched a rant on social media, following Sporting’s 2-0 Europa League quarter-final first leg loss to Atletico Madrid, threatening to suspend almost all of the “spoilt brats” in the first team.
Carvalho was elected president five years ago on the back of a promise to make Sporting great again; they last won the Primeira Liga title 17 years ago. His confrontational methods have led to heightened antagonism between the Lions and city rivals Benfica, who he has accused of bribery and corruption on virtually a weekly basis.
Bad blood between players, president, media and fans have made for an astonishing season at Sporting and only time will tell what impact the Cup Final defeat will have on the future of this famous club.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
