Is it fair that Porto were reinstated in the Champions’ League after their match-fixing scandal? How does this situation compare with the infamous Italian scandal? Porto seem to be getting off so easy while Juventus had the book thrown at them.

- Brad, Winnipeg

Just to clarify for readers who may not be apprised of the situation, Porto were initially banned from the 2008-09 Champions’ League on June 4th when UEFA acted on allegations that the Portuguese giants had fixed a pair of matches during the 2003-04 season. In both a 2-0 win over Estrela de Amadora and a 0-0 draw with Beira Mar, the club was believed to have bribed officials in order to attain a satisfactory result.

The investigation, nicknamed Apito Dourado, or Golden Whistle, lingered for over four years after the first allegations were levied – finally coming to a head during the recent Liga run-in. The Portuguese League for Professional Football (LPFP) responded by removing six points from Porto’s season total and banishing Boavista, another club named in the inquest, to the second division.

Less than three weeks later, and with Porto president Jorge Pinto de Costa facing civil litigation over the matter, UEFA issued the ban. Predictably, the club appealed the decision and had the ruling overturned on June 13th. Citing “new evidence” which had not been considered at the time of the ban, UEFA issued the following statement:
“Having listened to representatives of Porto, the Portuguese Football Federation, Benfica and Vitoria, as well as UEFA, the appeals body decided to annul the challenged decision and to refer the matter back to the control and disciplinary body for reassessment.”

Case closed. Unfortunately, it would have been better for all parties if UEFA had showed some backbone and maintained their original position. That the LPFP deducted only 6 points from a Porto side which went on to win the league by a staggering 14-points is nothing short of laughable. And their unwillingness to cooperate with UEFA left Europe’s governing body in a difficult position.

UEFA, remember, does not designate the clubs which participate in its competitions. It merely awards a set number of berths to each national federation – in this instance, two automatic places and a single qualification berth. It is left to the federation to determine the participants. For UEFA to ban a specific club would be an extreme and nearly impossible measure. It would be easier to simply bar the entire federation from partaking in continental competitions. The English F.A., for example, was prevented from entering its clubs in European tournaments for five years after the Heysel Stadium Disaster in 1985.

That said, UEFA would have done better to stick with their original decision. If the LPFP cannot clean up their own affairs – or even admit to them – it should fall on the European body’s shoulders to do it for them. Of course, the Portuguese federation would challenge the verdict in the courts. But so what? It would be interesting to see what would come out of it. And, at the very least, more of the murky details of the past four years would be made public. As it stands we know very little.

What we do know is that Pinto de Costa is a shady character – a weasel. He has been in and out of the courts since the first allegations of corruption surfaced in April, 2004. Two years later, his ex-wife Carolina Salgado released an autobiography which claimed that her former husband had bribed referees with prostitutes and sanctioned the violent beating of Gondomar councilor Ricardo Bexiga.

A prolonged court case, however uncomfortable, would surely provide more of the same accusations and bring something more substantial than “new evidence” to light. But for that to happen, UEFA would have to make a unilateral attempt to ban Porto from the Champions’ League. It’s what they intended to do in the first place. And they should have stuck to their guns.

Regarding the relegation of Juventus following the Italian match-fixing scandal, or Calciopoli, there is a single, significant difference between the situation of the Italian giants and their Portuguese counterparts: proof. By the time that Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina were hauled before the courts, the Italian authorities had fashioned a well-prepared prosecution. They had uncovered a tangible network of corruption and backed it up with recordings of intercepted telephone conversations.

Because the authorities were capable of presenting a credible prosecution, the civil courts were eager to take on the case. And rather than defend the clubs at fault as the LPFP did with Porto, the Italian Football Federation served as prosecutors against the clubs and succeeded at convicting all five.

Now, this is not to say that Italian football should serve as a model for the rest of Europe. Far from it. But until the Portuguese authorities get serious about presenting a credible, public case before the civil courts, rest assured that nothing will come of the ongoing investigations. As for the LPFP, they can hardly be counted on to side with the rule of law when faced with the censuring of their member clubs. Former chairman Valentim Loueiro was himself arrested by police and detained for questioning in December, 2006. Not a good place to start.

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.
 
Jerrad Peters covers football for Soccer365.com, the Winnipeg Free Press, ESPN Soccernet, and Soccer Three-Sixty.

Reader Feedback

Great article however there are a couple of problems with the reporting or the information provided here.

First, the reason for both the Boavista relagation and for the Porto six point decuction are not for the Apito Dourado (Golden whistle) but for the Apito Final (final Whistle) which did indeed involve match fixing allegations during the 03/04 competition year.

Second. Porto were deducted six points and that President Pinto da Costa was banned from for a period of two years for attempted match fixing in those years.

These are the reasons that UEFA reconsidered their initial decision, the rule for they were basing the ban on was for conviction of match fixing and not attempting.  (weak) reasoning but there you go.

Carlos V

Hello Answerman,
 
Great article by the way! Some of the comments posted on your website are absolutely bizarre. Someone writes " There has been no evidence against Porto or Pinto dacosta". Oh really?! So the hundreds of hours of phone conversations don't count? The fact that a referee admitted to everything Carolina Salgado said doesn't count?! Deluded people, you make me laugh, you really do... Well, people who support thieves have only one name: scum of the earth.
 
Nuno
Faro, Portugal

It was a good response, but I disagree with your characterization of Pinto da Costa as shady and as a weasel.
 
Unlike the rest of the Clubs in the Portuguese league whose chairmen don't normally last longer than 5 years (especially Benfica and Sporting), Pinto da Costa has been a source of stability at Porto since he first became chairman in 1982.  The reason for his longevity has been the overwhelming support of the socios/club members who respect the great success he has orchestrated not only in soccer, but in the other sports that FC Porto participate in (basketball, handball, etc).  The Club's record speaks for itself.
 
Having said this, like other big fish in small ponds, Porto's success and the big 3's domination in Portugal (Porto, Sporting, Benfica) has been built on the backs of the smaller teams, creating a perpetual uneven playing field, where great players in small teams are immediately purchased, leaving the original teams with no chance of ever escaping the Big 3's stranglehold on Portuguese soccer.
 
The drawback to his longevity though is that he has been around so long that he knows everyone involved with Portuguese soccer.  This level of knowledge is a source of both power and resentment by other clubs, especially Benfica who failing to enter the Champions League on the pitch, are forced to stage a legal game to try to get in.
 
Make no mistake, the Golden Whistle investigation was done at the behest of Benfica and no charges were ever made until Pinto da Costa's ex girlfriend wrote her book, Eu, Carolina (I, Carolina).  The charges against Pinto da Costa by the way have been dropped as most people suspected, not because of Pinto da Costa's legal shenanigans, but because Carolina was lying.  As a result, Porto have every right, legal, sporting and moral to be in the Champions League as nothing has ever been proved.
 
Is there corruption in the Portuguese league?  Yes.
Is there corruption in most leagues around the world?  Yes.
Is it fair to single out individual teams or leagues?  No.
 
If FIFA cared, there would be a global investigation into corruption at all levels - from the FIFA presidency to the lowest levels of amateur soccer.  Is this ever going to happen?  I'm not holding my breath.

Sergio T

Answerman,

Wow, thanks for the unbiased answer.  Pinto da Costa = Weasel.  There are few successful saints in professional sports and Pinto is certainly no saint, but to boil it down to the word "weasel" is pretty harsh.  I just wanted to point out a few things.  First of all, Carolina Salgada was not Pinto's wife.  She was his mistress and she has a history that is less than pure.  In recent days it has been reported that her testimony has been called in to question.  She said that she overheard Pinto's conversation with the ref, but she has been placed at a hair salon at the time of the conversation. 

Most importantly, as you eloquently stated, "Regarding the relegation of Juventus following the Italian match-fixing scandal, or Calciopoli, there is a single, significant difference between the situation of the Italian giants and their Portuguese counterparts: proof. By the time that Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina were hauled before the courts, the Italian authorities had fashioned a well-prepared prosecution. They had uncovered a tangible network of corruption and backed it up with recordings of intercepted telephone conversations."

PROOF...imagine that.  In Portugal, Apito Dourado was generated primarily on the questionable testimony of a jilted lover.  The year that these bribes took place was 2003/04 when Porto won the Champion's League.  That championship was legit.  Just like their 20 point lead in the league this year.  Consistently Porto have done a better job at scouting and selling their talent.  This whole episode is very depressing for a faithful Portista, but I do not believe that Pinto da Costa is the only "weasel" currently working in Portugal. 

Rick
San Leandro, CA

What BS this is... How ever this writer has to work for that whana b team in "red"....I can't even say the name I hate them so much just like u hate FC PORTO.... O ya enjoy 4th place..... VIVA PORTO

RUI C

Dear soccer365 i think Porto should go to the cl. they've bee in the cl 4 years now. i think UEFA made a good decision!!!!!!!

I'm a Porto fan myself and i was very disappointed when they announced Porto would not be going to the CL. think of all the fans you'd disappoint UEFA. GO PORTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aura

Its allegations the crime has not been proven beyond doubt as the law requires and even the Portuguese federation is very nerves about this that is why they keep saying alleged look at Boavista there was proof and they were relegated straight away and if I remember at that stage of the competion Porto had already won the title so arguably they did not need any help I think it is the Portuguese’s federation that has issues with Porto’s president as he is a no nonsense man that does not bow to there demands or threats this has being going on for years there dislike of him believe you me if they had proof Porto would have been relegated straight away they would love that. I think UEFA was right in overturning there decision you are innocent till proven guilty beyond doubt.

Lelo (Perth, Australia)

Pinto dacosta shady? A weasel. You should get you facts straight bub. There has been no evidence against Porto or Pinto dacosta.the authorities have dropped all charges against pinto dacosta and are considering charging his ex with false testimony . Yes he has been in and out of court since this started but there has never been one bit of evidence to show any wrong doin.all this garbage has been brought up by rival clubs who are trying to destroy the image of the club and its president. Uefa allowed Porto back into the cl. because there was no reason to keep them out.this has all gone on for too long. It has been four years and people are looking for evidence . Give me a break.

Paulo A