In an official statement, the club from the municipality of Loures confirmed that The incident occurred during the Benjamins A (under-11) match and highlighted that the situation prompted an immediate disciplinary response. “During the course of the match, there was a Totally unacceptable behavior on the part of one of our assistant coaches, which culminated in a physical attack on the referee”, says the management.
On the same note, the collective presented a formal apology to the entities involved in the meeting and the sports community. “We offer our most sincere apology to the referee involved, Ponte Frielas, the athletes, their guardians, the Lisbon Football Association and the Arbitration Council”, the document reads.
The club also made a point of highlighting that the behavior does not represent its identity as a training entity. “We want to make it clear that This episode does not, in any way, reflect the values of Associação Desportiva Bobadelensenor the environment we promote as a training entity, distinguished with the Flag of Ethics”, adds the board.
As an immediate consequence of what happened, technical assistant Vasco Lourenço was removed from his duties. According to the statement, “the coach in question was immediately removed from all his duties, and the appropriate disciplinary procedures are already being initiated, with a view to ensuring that situations like this do not happen again”.
The Associação Desportiva Bobadelense also reaffirmed its commitment to the principles that guide grassroots football, highlighting that will continue to work to preserve a safe and educational environment. “We reaffirm our commitment to safety, respect and fair play, fundamental pillars of the work carried out daily”, concludes the official note.
Also the board of directors of União Desportiva da Ponte de Frielas made a public statement in a statement, expressing full solidarity with the referee involved and clearly condemning any violent behavior in the sporting context. In the same document, the club appealed to the rigorous determination of all responsibilities by the competent authorities, highlighting the importance of preserving a safe, educational and respectful environment in grassroots football.
The board also reinforced that episodes of this nature cannot be tolerated, especially in competitions aimed at younger athletes, where the values of respect, ethics and fair play must prevail above any sporting result. In that regard, called for the collaboration of everyone involved — clubs, coaches, parents and managers — to ensure that similar situations do not happen again and that football continues to be a positive and healthy learning space for children.
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