Sporting CP has released a statement accusing Benfica coach, Chema Rodriguez, of assaulting Ricardo Costa, the Sporting coach, and reporting an attack on Salvador Salvador, Sporting team captain. The incident occurred after a match, which Sporting CP won 34-30, qualifying for the Taça de Portugal Final Four. The statement confirms that both Ricardo Costa and Salvador Salvador, coach, and captain of Sporting’s Handball team, were assaulted on the premises of the Benfica stadium, Pavilion 2, after the match. Chema Rodriguez, the Benfica coach, is identified as the assailant of Ricardo Costa, which the statement emphasizes as an extremely grave situation. The Sporting statement also condemns Rodriguez’s comments after the match, which attempted to justify his violence by citing values and respect. Commenting that, these are terms that he knows only from vocabulary and does not execute to his actions. The statement emphasizes that the values and the execution of those values are paramount in the Sporting family that is passed down from generation to generation. The statement further reveals that an unnamed Benfica fan also attacked Salvador Salvador following the disturbances witnessed after the match, promptly arrested by the police. Sporting CP vehemently condemns the assaults on both its players and coaches and guarantees that it will undertake all necessary steps to hold the assailants responsible. The incident underscores the need to eradicate violence in the national sports scene. The rivalry between Benfica and Sporting runs deep and is often described as one of the fiercest in world football. However, the circumstances today highlight the ugly face of sports violence, which is unacceptable in any context. The events will shock both clubs that have excellent reputations and are known for their impressive sporting events.
