Attention: UEFA

On the verge of UEFA’s decision regarding FC Porto’s inclusion (or exclusion) in (from) European competition for next season, I thought I would give a little example of just how corrupt those sons-of-bitches are. This is an excerpt from an interview of former Porto midfielder Costinha done by “Sábado” in 2005 (it’s an old article, but I only found out about it recently – shows how good some news can be hidden). Don’t mind the dated context and content – it refers to the 2004-2005 season (Benfica Campeão... I miss saying that).

Q: Was Derlei released because of Fernandez [former FC Porto coach]?
Costinha: It’s complicated. To understand the departure of Derlei you need to encounter who was behind it. I can’t believe that a group of fans [Super Dragões – the Portuguese Al-Qaeda] were criticizing and soiling him with provocative signs, an athlete that gave as much to the club that Derlei did. And we were even more frightened when nobody from the club took a stand. Actually, it was the opposite. These people, after insulting the players, would enter the clubs installations with a free path without any consequences. And more; during the day they would threaten the players and at night they would dine with FC Porto directors. What do you think a squad thinks when they know those who threaten them dine with directors from the club?

Q: Do you know the president of the Super Dragões?
Costinha: By appearance. He says he’s a professional of a group of fans, and apparently, he also has a profitable profession. Many FC Porto players don’t make enough money to drive Porsche’s and he has one.

Q: Do you think the groups’ purpose is to white-out the mistakes the directors make?
Costinha: I don’t know. I know that I have marks on my body that prove what I did for the club. I played injured and infiltrated; I did it because I wanted to and because I was dedicated. I won everything there was to win. And they were still running after me trying to ruin my life? And the directors don’t do anything?

Q: Were you threatened?
Costinha: Yes, but because I have a great friend in the city of Porto there was a peaceful ending.

Q: What was the most complicated situation you were involved in?
Costinha: When FC Porto tied in Madeira against Nacional, the disrespect started right away at the airport in Madeira. The groups provoked the team by insulting all the players, especially Raúl Meireles, who was unlucky enough to score an own goal. He was physically assaulted, with a bottle. I was in Porto, recovering from cranial injury, but I knew what was happening because I had spoken with various teammates out of solidarity. And because of what I heard, I decided to go to the airport to wait for the team. I brought two friends, so I didn’t have to bring two body-guards, and I had reason, because when I got there I saw a band of 60 or 70 Super Dragões. The players were the first to leave the airplane and had to deal with all those people; with all the insults and physical assault, whilst the directors stayed on the plane, protected. It’s true that the fans physically assaulted the players last season; everything was permitted within FC Porto.

Q: You never tried to speak with the president?
Costinha: No. They’re the ones that decide everything. When they succeed, they take the credit, when they make mistakes, they don’t say anything. We had players who champions of Europe making 5 dollars and others who had not won anything with much higher salaries. And I would try to talk with them and make sense of it.

Q: Was the bad home form related to this environment?
Costinha: It was one of the questions of the season and the explanation is simple: some players aren’t capable of playing out of fear. We are talking about threats from organized groups. Some of us tried to create an uninhibited environment but there were still players who panicked because they missed a pass or a play.

Q: Is this why players like Luís Fabiano failed?
Costinha: He was one who got caught in the fear.

Q: Are we talking about the same people Mourinho referred to? [Mourinho received death threats as well]
Costinha: Clearly. Actually I’m part of that story, but I can’t reveal any more without his consent. All I can say is that what they did to Mourinho was a disgrace.

Q: What did Pinto da Costa do to prevent these problems?
Costinha: He continues to be a great leader, but during the bad times it’s not good enough to say the team loses because Derlei or Costinha enjoys the nightlife. Scapegoats are not enough. It’s easy to attribute the destruction of the team to Del Neri, Fernandez and the players. It’s also easy to convince the fans of this when they strategically place half-a-dozen Super Dragões in the stadium. This is how the direction protects themselves. But I’m not one to listen, look, and shut-up. The team and the spirit Mourinho created were completely destroyed.

The similarities to a mob are strikingly evident. Add this to the match-fixing scandal and voila; FC Porto in all of its glory. The club is a fucking disgrace and should be banished from the face of the planet. The portistas still clinging to their pride and honour are pathetic - face the facts; you’re supporting a criminal organization.

And after the successive attempts from FC Porto to intoxicate the Portuguese media with their fictitious arguments of why they should be in the Champions League (the Portuguese Football Federation had to dismiss the reports in loom of UEFA’s decision), one can only hope UEFA has done their homework on that feeble excuse of a football club.