Porto punished in Portugal soccer scandal

In Portugal’s biggest soccer scandal, FC Porto was deducted six points Friday for trying to bribe referees in two games during the 2003-04 season. The team is headed to a third straight league championship this weekend, and the punishment will not affect its title bid.

The league disciplined two other first-division clubs for attempting to fix league matches. Boavista dropped to the second division and Leiria lost points. All three clubs denied the charges.

Five referees also were found guilty of corruption and drew suspensions ranging from 2 1/2 years to six years.

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Boavista Demoted; Porto President Suspended

The Portuguese League's Disciplinary Committee has confirmed the verdict in the 'Apito Final' (Final Whistle) case...

The Disciplinary Committee have decided to send historical club Boavista to the second division for exercising coercion against the referee on three games during the 2003/04 season - against Benfica, Belenenses and Académica Coimbra. Boavista will also be fined €180,000.

FC Porto have been docked six points from this same campaign and will be fined €150,000 for attempted corruption, while their president, Pinto da Costa, has been suspended for a period of 2 years and will receive a €10,000 fine. The six point deduction still see them as champions for that year.

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Chelsea Sign Bosingwa

Portuguese sports daily O Jogo reports that Chelsea have completed the signing of FC Porto right-back José Bosingwa.

Avram Grant was desperate to bring in a new right-sided defender as he was reportedly unhappy with the current options available at Stamford Bridge for this position.

O Jogo says the two clubs concurred on a €20 million deal yesterday, suggesting that the deal will be formally announced on Monday.

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Figo: Ronaldo Is The Complete Player

Inter Milan winger Luis Figo had some kind words for fellow Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo when he spoke to the Spanish press at the opening a 'Sport Zone' store in Madrid on Friday.

Figo is currently recovering from injury and has taken the opportunity to return to the Spanish capital, where he enjoyed five successful years with Real Madrid at the turn of the century.

Whilst appearing at the opening of the first 'Sport Zone' store in Spain, Figo was questioned on a variety of subjects, starting with his experiences since joining Inter Milan.

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Figo Backs Guardiola Appointment

Inter play maker, Luis Figo, admits that he is not surprised with Josep Guardiola’s appointment as the new Barcelona coach and he believes the new man will do well at Camp Nou.

The former world player of the year spent five years at Camp Nou, scoring 30 goals in 172 appearances for the Blaugrana and he was team mates with Guardiola. The Portuguese winger believes that his old colleague will do a good job with the Catalonian club.
“I know him really well, and he loves his football. I am not surprised at all that he will be the new Barcelona coach,” Figo told Sport ES.

“It’s not always easy to be a coach but Guardiola has many talents and I think he will do really well.”

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Chelsea Join Veloso Race

Portuguese news daily Record reports that Chelsea are interested in signing Sporting defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso...

The Portuguese international has been an ever-present figure in the Lions' midfield and is reported to have won an array of admirers across Europe.

Newcastle are reported to have made an offer in the region of €20 million for the 21-year-old, but it is believed that Sporting rejected the bid made by The Magpies.

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Pauleta Prepares For Emotional Farewell

Portuguese international forward Pedro Pauleta will play his last match at the Parc des Princes on Saturday when relegation threatened PSG face Saint-Étienne.

Nicknamed the 'Eagle of the Azores' in France, the Portuguese predator has one-hundred and nine goals to his name since joining PSG five seasons ago from Bordeaux.

It seemed that honours would fall into his lap in his early time at PSG as the club were regularly challenging for the league title and claimed two French Cups however the last two seasons have been very different with Paul Le Guen's side fighting a battle against relegation.

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