THE Estrela da Amadora coach, Pepa, was today “very satisfied and relieved” by the FPF Disciplinary Council’s dismissal of the complaint that had been made to him by APAF, considering that “there was justice” in the decision.
“I was very satisfied and relieved. Above all satisfied, because I really felt that there was justice and I’m not saying that I’m worried or sad because there was a case against me”, he said, on the sidelines of the reception against Casa Pia, of the ninth round of the I Football League, scheduled for Saturday.
Pepa, 45 years old, commented with satisfaction on the decision released the day before, which considered “unfounded” the complaint that had been made to him by the National Association of Football Coaches (ANTF) for statements after the meeting between Estrela da Amadora and Rio Ave, at Estádio dos Arcos, in the sixth round of the I League, played on September 14th, which, in this organization’s opinion, would have called into question the seriousness and honor of the arbitration class.
“I’m satisfied with that. We are in a free country, where there was no offense to the person (the match referee, Gustavo Correia) or to anyone. It was a matter of talking about a move”, he explained.
In the Rio Ave-Estrela da Amadora match, which ended in a three-goal draw, the coach spoke out vehemently against the decisions taken by the referee and VAR in the ‘flash interview’ that followed the match, characterizing the penalty awarded against his team, which resulted in the last goal of the match, as “surreal” and considering that they “took two points” from the amateur club.
The person responsible for the Tricolores, who occupy 10th place in the I League, with 10 points, as a result of two wins, four draws and two defeats in eight rounds, reiterated that he had no intention of offending the referee and video referee of the match in question, Gustavo Correia and LuÃs Ferreira respectively, considering that there is room for criticism in football as long as it is done in moderation and mutual respect.
“Here, no one was disrespectful. I didn’t want to offend anyone, so much so that it was proven and thank goodness. I think football should move in that direction because no one here to offend anyone, we have to talk about things as they are”, he said, finally.
Estrela da Amadora, 10th placed in the Portuguese First League, with 10 points, receives Casa Pia, 17th and penultimate placed, with four, in a game for the ninth round scheduled for Saturday, at 3:30 pm, at the José Gomes Stadium, in Amadora, with refereeing by Bruno Pires Costa, from the Viana do Castelo association.
