President Bruno de Carvalho with the press on Saturday night

The Sporting president spoke with the press on Saturday night, leaving a message for the fans and reflecting on the weekend’s chance to move clear at the top of I Liga:

“Firstly, I want to thank the thousands of Sporting fans who came here. We felt like we were playing at home and we should be proud of that. It is a really important that it continues to happen.

Secondly, it is important for us to reflect on how we think the fans are feeling. We are disappointed with the result, but we have to understand that the season is a marathon and not a 100m sprint. We will fight for the title to the end and we believe in the work we are doing. We need the support of our 12^th man and I am sure you will all be there with us.

There are also a few things I would like to share with you. I haven’t reached three years with the club yet, but this game has taught me things that the fans should know, because football looks like it is constantly changing.

Firstly, I was sent off at the end of the game. In the preparatory meeting, which I always go to, the refereeing team, namely the main referee, said that he didn’t want to stand out too much going on and off the pitch. At the game, I walked up to him and told him that for someone who didn’t want to stand out, he had in fact stood out too much. I was sent off. I learnt then that you can say whatever you want in the preparatory meeting, because it isn’t taken seriously and you can always do the opposite.

Secondly, I learnt that humility is not a characteristic to associate with referees. Some people think you need an ego the size of the world to be a referee, instead of being humble. I learnt that touching somebody’s back can rule out a goal, but pulling several players back in the area isn’t a penalty. It is an important change in the rules of the game and it isn’t worth getting upset about, because it is a rule now. I also learnt that brutal tackles and tackles from behind will not be disciplined. That is another new rule in the game. A player stops the ball with his hand then gets upset because he wasn’t given a free-kick, then runs after the player who supposedly fouled him and kicks him isn’t sent off. I also learnt that it is worth wasting time, because it isn’t the referee’s job to stop that happening, but rather to passively look at everything. A player can also be exactly where he should be for a substitution, knowing that he is coming off, but then go to the 18-yard box and then come back to be substituted. That isn’t punished and it is normal.”

Asked about the absence of Carrillo, Bruno de Carvalho responded: “We would only miss Carrillo if he had taken a refereeing course. What we are talking about here is the new rules of football.”

Relative to the naming of Artur Soares Dias to take charge of the weekend’s encounter, the Alvalade president added: “I don’t think it was strange and I have to say that I have a lot of consideration for Artur Soares Dias. I learnt a lot and I am upset, but I have to start changing how I think about the game, or I will always be upset. The rules changed and nobody told us, but maybe we can use the General Assembly tomorrow to explain the rules to the fans so they don’t criticise the referees.”

Confronted with a possible suspension, Carvalho responded: “If I am suspended, maybe I will go on holiday, because I have learnt a lot of new rules and I need a rest.“