Rui Nalha, captain of União Desportiva da Chamusca, was transported, on Sunday afternoon, to Santarém Hospital, after being brutally attacked by an opponent, in the head, in a game of the Santarém INATEL Championship.
Apparently, the 31-year-old player was attacked in the final minutes of the meeting with União Desportiva de Malaqueijo.
In a note shared on social media, União Desportiva da Chamusca, which identifies the opposing goalkeeper as the aggressor, writes that this same athlete attacked Rui Nalha “in a barbaric manner” with “several kicks to the head, when he was lying on the ground.”
“This event was witnessed by several people, including the assistant referee, who himself transmitted the information to the main referee and described the event in the match report”, can be read in the note published on the social networks of the Scalabitan club.
“Violence has no place in sport and is not a justification in any situation. Football moves crowds and generations. On a beautiful afternoon of football, with a beautiful human frame, this is yet another stain on football. We, União Desportiva da Chamusca, do not accept these behaviors and will fight until the last resort to defend ours and our image”, continues the statement.
Rui Nalha was transported by ambulance and will “carry out more in-depth examinations to rule out any more serious injuries.”
“União Desportiva da Chamusca wishes a rapid recovery to our captain, Rui Nalha, who is the true example of what it means to defend the colors of our club. A person who began his sporting career at our club and who is a reference for the various players in our formation”, ends the note.
The match between UD Chamusca and UD Malaqueijo was immediately interrupted and the alleged attacker was identified by the GNR while still in the stadium.
Malaqueijo reacts and denies the goalkeeper’s aggression
Late on Sunday night, União Desportiva de Malaqueijo reacted to these incidents. The amateur club confirms that several members of its squad helped Nalha, as well as members of the technical team, and denies that its goalkeeper was the aggressor.
“First of all, we wish the athlete Rui Nalha a quick recovery, as well as all the athletes who suffered physical consequences in the events, including our club’s athletes. The health and integrity of any person will always be above any sporting rivalry. The incidents began during the compensation period, following a game that ended up leading to an altercation involving members of both teams. It is important to clarify that, during these events, two athletes from our team, including our captain, a professional health, he lay down on the fallen athlete with the aim of helping and protecting him from various attacks, including from the Chamusca team, having injured his physical integrity and having been kicked in the back and head”, the Santarém club began by writing.
“The situation worsened with the entry of fans of the home team onto the playing field, creating an environment of insecurity that led our team’s delegate to ask the refereeing team to close the match and for the authorities to intervene. In this sense, we want to recognize the stance of the refereeing team and thank the GNR for its intervention, which allowed us to guarantee the safe departure of our athletes, technical team and around 15 fans, among whom were older people and a one-year-old baby. It is also important to highlight that, during the assistance provided to the opposing captain, members of our technical team, namely our coach and masseur, were present and monitored the situation, demonstrating that, even in the most difficult moments, respect for human integrity must prevail”, continues the extensive note.
“Regarding the accusations made against our goalkeeper, the athlete disputes all the accusations made against him. The União Desportiva de Malaqueijo understands that it is up to the competent authorities to analyze all the elements and determine responsibilities, without anticipated judgments. We condemn any form of violence, regardless of who perpetrates it or the colors it represents. We do not seek to excuse incorrect behavior, but we also cannot accept that a situation with several actors and different events is reduced to one only version. The União Desportiva de Malaqueijo will continue to be available to collaborate with the competent entities in clarifying the facts, always defending its athletes, its partners, fans and the good name of the institution, a local and non-profit institution, which lives off the voluntary work of the ‘people of its land'”, the statement ends.
