Leceiros supporters launch manifesto against changing the game to Paços de Ferreira
João Rocha and Gonçalo Brás have been two Leça supporters for over 20 years, who dislike the change of venue for the match against Sporting, from the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, to Paços de Ferreira. Consider that “there was no concern with the football party, nor with the fans”.
The fact that the draw dictated a Leça-Sporting at this stage of the Portuguese Cup was a source of great joy for fans, but the change to Estádio Capital do Móvel, due to the alleged lack of conditions for the match in Leça da Palmeira, revolted a mass of fans for which hosting a club of such size in Portugal is something special.
For this reason, João Rocha and Gonçalo Brás wrote a manifesto, entitled “two weights and two measures” in which they condemned the change of venue because they considered that there was no “concern for the supporters” and used examples of similar situations with clubs worldwide. “Barcelona played for Linense, for the Copa del Rey de España, a club that has a synthetic pitch. Sevilla went to play on a pitch without benches. I don’t understand why there isn’t an effort by the Portuguese Football Federation and Sporting to if you value a spectacle that is football “, explained João Rocha.
The fact that the game is scheduled for the night requires that the lawn lighting meet certain specific requirements for the game to be played and broadcast. Even in this aspect, João Rocha, born and raised in Leça da Palmeira and an ardent supporter of the club, believes that this would not be a determining factor.
“I understand that Sporting is a big one, but Paredes came to Leça da Palmeira at 2 pm on a Thursday, why can’t Sporting do it? The lighting hadn’t been turned on for four years, they’ve tested it in recent days , I don’t understand why that lighting is not enough”, he defends. “We have an aging membership and will force supporters to go to Paços de Ferreira one day a week. This type of measures damages the image of the Portuguese Cup and does not defend neither the spirit of competition nor the football festival”, he considers .
In conclusion, João Rocha leaves a question. “How many clubs in Portugal are able to meet all the requirements of the Portuguese Football Federation and receive this type of matches in their stronghold?”, he asks.