SJPF, APAF and ANTF together at the Sporting Academy

‘On the pitch we play the same game'. That is the name aptly given to a new imitative between the Professional Football Players Syndicate (SJPF), the Portuguese Football Referees Association (APAF) and the National Football Coaches Association (ANTF), with the objective of promoting healthy attitudes between players, referees, directors and coaches. Kicking off the campaign, Sporting CP opened the doors of the Academy, in a ceremony attended by Bruno de Carvalho, Sporting president, José Gomes, APAF president, Joaquim Evangelista, SJPF president, Duarte Gomes, former international referee, and Jorge Jesus, Sporting's coach.

“Sporitng immediately accepted the proposal to host this group and to join in the initiative, in similar fashion to other things we have been doing relative to Portuguese football. The relation ship between the SJPF and CP, regardless of things that might be going on, have been healthy. We have met in the middle ground and made the compromises needed in Portuguese football. While I defend the the interests of the players, it is president Bruno de Carvalho who defends the interests of Sporting", introduced Joaquim Evangelista, continuing with an explaination of the initiative: "We want to find solutions at home. People talk a lot about football and it worries us that such discussions end up conditioning those who are involved in the game. We will create a space for dialog, where we can explain things to players and coaches about refereeing."

Also commenting on the initiative, Bruno de Carvalho proved happy with the steps being taken in Portuguese and international football: "If there is something we want and that we fight for at Sporting, it is a better game. There were two issues which clearly bring together Sporting and the Players Syndicate. Firstly, the use of funds had to end and secondly, technology. The players., who were the ones who were supposed to benefit from funds, where the ones who fought the hardest to finish them. Technology will also be a reality in football. We are all human and we all make mistakes, but the only people who didn't have the benefit of technology where the referees. We are really happy, because it was a tough two years, but we have scored two big wings for football."