The elite round of the UEFA Futsal Champions League begins on Wednesday, a competition in which Sporting and Benfica participate, and the two national clubs are on the list of candidates to win the title. Given their team’s performance in recent years, sports fans have become more optimistic, and Pedro Márquez de Sousa, member number 22,092-1 of Alvalade, has launched a public petition asking the board of directors headed by Federico Varandas to sign coach Nuno Dias to a lifetime contract. The Leo coach is seen as the face of the success enjoyed by Sporting’s futsal division in recent years, and the assistant intends to see him in the future as an icon for the Lions, as happened with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. “Given that the head futsal coach of our chosen club, Nuno Dias and his assistants, are fundamental assets of our club; given that the track record speaks for itself; and given that the most difficult task is to maintain the club at a high level.” It has been concluded that such a requirement, given the greatness of our club and the desire of our founder (“as big as the biggest in Europe”) does not seem compatible with having a sporting employment contract only until 2027; Considering that Nuno Dias, if he stays at the club after 2027, could be considered the “Alex Ferguson of the futsal world”; Taking into account our club’s “history” when it comes to “shooting ourselves in the foot” when circumstances are frankly positive, we (members, fans and supporters) hereby request Your Excellency to negotiate and conclude a lifetime employment contract with Nuno Dias (and his trusted assistant team) with Sporting,” you can read in the petition.