The PSP Coimbra District Command reportedly requested two rapid intervention teams for the Portuguese Cup match, which it reported were “unavailable for health reasons.”

The leadership of the Coimbra PSP announced on Thursday the opening of investigations to investigate the medical absence of the 18 agents, who were called to participate in securing the match between UD Leiria and Sporting in the Portuguese Cup.

According to the PSP District Command in Coimbra, in a press release sent to the Lusa Agency, “it was expected that two rapid intervention teams from Coimbra would participate, as happens when large events take place,” but the staff announced that they were unable to do so for health reasons. Faced with this unexpected scenario, “due diligence was undertaken to mobilize another team in a timely manner, which proved not to be possible.”

As part of the Portuguese Cup match, the PSP Regional Commander issued a decision for an “extraordinary mobilization of human resources”, after being refused any kind of relief and requesting the appointment of off-duty agents.

In order to prevent further postponement of the Sporting match, the police force refused to lay off workers and placed officers on their day off.

According to the commander’s service order, seen by the Portuguese agency, the official justified these measures with “the increasing responsibilities within the scope of his functional competencies, to which he must respond effectively and professionally.”

The last days witnessed the absence of many members of the PSP and GNR teams, which led to the cancellation of the match, last Saturday, between Famalicao and Sporting, in reference to the 20th round of the tournament, in addition to other matches in the second division. Scheduled for last weekend. This concerns the various protests carried out by these police forces, which demand an annex similar to that allocated to the judicial police.