Octávio Machado speaks about recent events on the pitch

Sporting's director for football, Octávio Machado, sat down with the press this weekend to speak about Sporting CP's current form and standing in Liga NOS. Refereeing was inevitably the overtone of his comments, but the Alvalade director did not dismiss the influence of some of Sporting CP's recent performances.

Bruno de Carvalho visiting Supporters' Clubs around the country

The Sporting CP president, Bruno de Carvalho, was on the road this week, visiting Supporters' Clubs around the country. Questions inevitably awaited in relation to the recent refereeing incidents in Portuguese football and the Alvalade chief did not shy away from passing comment.

"Sporting CP cannot carry on sitting back and watching as we are damaged. I don't understand how we are eight points off the top of the league, with the investments we have made. We have missed a lot of goals and haven't been playing great, but refereeing has contributed to that too. This is the last time that the club will hold back, because we will not tolerate this any more. We will give the benefit of the doubt one more time, in the believe that we will be where we want to be at the end of the season", said Carvalho.

The Sporting CP president went on to affirm the need for change, highlighting issues that condition the country's officials: "Making the wrong decision no longer influences how referees are rated and that hows a lack of preparation. Not taking those decisions into account is like forgiving crimes in society. We have made internal proposals to UEFA and FIFA, many of which were approved by national and international institutions. Now we are going to try again. The video-referee is fundamental. After five years of testing in the Netherlands, it is crucial that we implement the technology. This have to be made more transparent, so people talk less about scandal and more about football."

Former international official in Alvalade to reflect on the rules introduced this year

The former international referee, Pedro Henriques, was in Estádio José Alvalade this week for a seminar on the new rules introduced by the International Board on the 1st of June this year.

"A lot of changes were made. The Rules of the Game are better organised now. The idea today was to speak about the most relevant changes, but just the fact that UEFA and FIFA have changed something is good. We are talking about organisations that are very reluctant to change anything at all, despite clubs insisting, as was the case with Sporting and video referees. This is a good sign though and we are on the right track", said Henriques at the event.

Octávio Machado on the lack of punishment for Benfica

Octávio Machado gave a hard-hitting press conference following Sunday's Liga NOS fixtures, in what were the last of the season.

"Penalties are only against Benfica after the 95th minute, when they are already winning 5-0. It happened in the first match against Estoril when it was 0-0 and it happened again today, against Nacional. In the last match of the season, the decisive match, another penalty was not given when the game was 0-0", said Sporting's director of football.

André Moreira named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 44

André Moreira, 28, from the Leiria Football Association, has been named for Sporting B's hosting of FC Porto B, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 44.

Nuno Vicente and Rui Freire will act as linesmen

This will be André Moreira's first Sporting B match of the season, but his third with FC Porto B.

Sporting CP B-FC Porto B will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 1st of May, at the Sporting Academy.

Rui Costa named for Liga NOS matchday 31

Rui Costa, 39, fron the Porto Football Association, has been named for Sporting's hosting of U. Madeira, on Liga NOS matchday 31.

Álvaro Mesquita and Tiago Costa will act as linesmen.

This will be Costa's 4th Sporting match of the season, after Sporting CP-V. Guimarães (matchday 8), Marítimo-Sporting CP (matchday 12) and Sporting CP-Boavista (matchday 23).

Sporting CP-U. Madeira will get underway at 18h30 on Saturday the 23rd of April, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Luís Godinho for Ledman LigaPro matchday 42

Luís Godinho, 30, from the Évora Football Association, has been named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 42, between Sporting B and Benfica B.

José Braga and Valter Rufo will act as linesmen

This will be Godinho's second Sporting B match of the season, after the matchday 18 hosting of  Ac. Viseu.

Sporting CP B-Benfica B will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 17th of April, at the Sporting Academy.

Bruno Paixão named for Liga NOS matchday 30

Bruno Paixão, 31, from the Setúbal Football Association, has been named to take charge of sporting's visit to Moreirense, on Liga NOS matchday 30.

António Godinho and Rodrigo Pereira will act as linesmen.

This will be Bruno Paixão's second Sporting match of the season, following the matchday 22 visit to Nacional.

Moreirense-Sporting CP will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Comendador Joaquim Almeida de Freitas.

Octávio Machado on refereeing and the Liga NOS run in

Alvalade's director of football, Octávio Machado, sat down this week to comment on a statement released by Benfica.

"Are we living in the past, twenty years ago? I have always been on the front line of the fight to change football, but there are a lot of people who want to go backwards", opened Machado, before going on to reflect on alleged comments made towards referees: "Was it me that said João Capela is a bad person or bad referee? Some people are really disturbed, probably the same people who said Jorge Sousa, the best Portuguese referee, sent off the substitute goalkeeper because the first choice was injured. A lot of people have very creative imaginations to be honest. I don't criticize refereeing, but I do have something to say about the naming of referees for matches. João Capela wasn't picked for any Benfica matches and he didn't referee a single Sporting of FC Porto matchday for three years. He is a referee that should not be picked and everyone knows that."

With the season heading for a tight finish, Machado appealed for a fair contest: "The last six games deserve that extra bit of attention from everyone involved in sport, starting with Vítor Pereira. Look at what is happening in refereeing, it is being destroyed."

João Mendes for Ledman LigaPro matchday 40

João Mendes, 34, from the Santarém Football Association, has been named for Sporting B's hosting of Gil Vicente, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 40.

Jorge Maia and Manuel João will act as linesmen.

This will be Mendes' first Sporting B match of the season.

Sporting CP B-Gil Vicente will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 9th of April, at the Sporting Academy.