Porto boss Sergio Conceicao ‘takes legal action after being accused of hitting a Spanish mayor, a referee and police officers’ during an alleged fight at a children’s football tournament in Spain
- At the youth tournament, Sevilla and Porto were in the Under 9 final
- Porto confirmed that Conceicao plans to take further legal action for defamation
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Porto manager Sergio Conceicao has filed a legal complaint against the mayor of a Spanish city over an alleged fight during a children’s football tournament
The youth tournament – the Copa Gafanote – was held in the Spanish port city of Huelva and featured Sevilla and Porto in the Under 9 final.
Porto told ESPN that Conceicao, who was accused by Cartaya mayor Manuel Barroso of punching a referee, the mayor himself and Spanish police, has filed a complaint against the mayor for physically pushing one of his sons.
The Portuguese club confirmed that Conceicao plans to take further legal action for defamation following the mayor’s retelling of his version of events on a local Spanish radio station.
The club said Conceicao went onto the field after a league match to ask the referee about an incident that had “made the parents of many players sad to see their children’s disappointment.”
Porto manager Sergio Conceicao has filed a legal complaint against the mayor of a Spanish city over an alleged fight during a children’s football tournament
As he entered the field, one of Conceicao’s sons was reportedly pushed by Mayor Manuel Barroso and Conceicao intervened to try to break the confusion and prevent Barroso from “attacking” his son again, according to the two-time Champions League winning club. .
“Yesterday, immediately after the events, a criminal complaint was filed against Mayor Manuel Barroso for the attempted assault of Sergio Conceicao’s son,” Conceicao’s lawyer said in a statement seen by ESPN.
‘We deny the accusations made by the same mayor, which have no basis in truth. In view of the news that has now been published, we are also moving forward with a complaint for defamatory allegations against Mayor Manuel Barroso.”
ESPN reached out to Barroso and the mayor’s office for comment on Conceicao’s allegations but did not immediately receive a response.
Conceicao, a former winger who played for Inter Milan, Lazio and Porto, has been in charge of the Portuguese side since 2017.
He has three national titles to his name, but is seven points behind leader Sporting Lisbon this season.
His Porto side were recently knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Arsenal, followed by a falling out with opposite number Mikel Arteta.
Conceicao even accused Arteta of insulting his family, something Arsenal as a club denied.
The former Portuguese player has also had clashes with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel when the German was in charge of Chelsea.