The Lisbon City Council (CML) reacted to the events during the celebrations of Sporting fans to win the national title, “isolated acts provoked by some groups of fans, in the context of a great sporting celebration” and that “unfortunately tarnished the compliant behavior of large thousands of people ».
In a statement, CML recalls traditions, partying at the Marquis and being received at the chamber, stating that the route by open bus was designed to avoid concentrations, but after what was seen yesterday, in which several distance rules were not respected, no will allow Sporting fans to concentrate on Praça do Município when the team is received by President Fernando Medina on the 20th.
Here is the statement:
«It is the tradition of the clubs in the city to organize festivities in the Marquês de Pombal square, which also assume a spontaneous and popular character, whenever relevant sports titles are concerned. Despite the pandemic context that we still live in, this spontaneous gathering of people was very likely, as seen in Amsterdam, Milan and Manchester, and posed particular challenges to the champion club and the health authorities and security forces. It should be noted that today there is no time or other limitation on the movement of people in public spaces in our country.
In the preparatory meetings for the event, the concern of all those present was to reduce the predictable influx of people to a single point: the Marquês de Pombal square. It is in this context that the solution arises to take players on an open bus, in contact with supporters along a 6 km route, between the José Alvalade Stadium and the Marquês de Pombal.
It is also from this concern that the decision was made not to allow the setting up of a stage, contrary to what has always happened in previous years, in the Marquês de Pombal square. In this way, an attempt was made to guarantee a more widely spread presence of supporters over a long route, reducing the agglomeration of fans in one place and reducing the potential risk to public health.
The CML received communication of manifestation at the Alvalade stadium, which, according to the law, forwarded it to the PSP. It should be noted that the right to demonstrate is not (and cannot be) subject, under the terms of the Constitution, to any authorization or conditioning by the City Councils.
Taking into account the events of last night, the Lisbon City Council decided to change the way in which the reception and tribute to the national football champion in Paços do Concelho will be processed – that is, an event organized by the municipality.
As such, on the 20th of May, and contrary to tradition, supporters will not be allowed in Praça do Município, as well as in the squares and adjacent streets, the ceremony being reserved for guests and athletes from Sporting Clube de Portugal (especially from Sporting schools), as well as the media. The fans will then be able to watch the ceremony on television. »
– .
