The Minister of Internal Administration ordered an urgent investigation into the absence of police in Saturday's match between Famalicao and Sporting, which ended up being cancelled, and statements made by the president of the National Police Federation (Sinapol), Armando Ferreira. Who admitted there was a “strong possibility” that police protests would prevent the elections from taking place.
A statement issued on Saturday evening said that the MAI had opened an investigation into “the events related to the PSP team’s monitoring of the Famalicão-Sporting match of the First Football League, in particular those involving widespread and sudden medical leave provided by police officers.”
“The IGAI also ordered the opening of an investigation in relation to statements made by a trade union leader regarding the activity of the Socialist Progressive Party in the context of the upcoming electoral work, i.e. the possibility that the transfer of ballot boxes was at stake.” The memo.
After the events of this Saturday, the National Director of the Public Security Police and Commander-in-Chief of the Republican National Guard were summoned by the Minister of Internal Administration to a meeting that will take place on Sunday, February 4, at 9 am at the Ministry’s headquarters. For internal management.
The match between Famalicao and Sporting was initially postponed for an hour due to the lack of police presence at the stadium, and was later canceled for the same reason. Next to the stadium, clashes occurred between Famalicao and Sporting fans, resulting in several injuries. Hours after the match was supposed to start, PSP said it had planned and prepared “sufficient and necessary police force to ensure the normal course of the event,” but before the match began, “an unusual number of police officers were present.” They reported being sick, and they reported sick leave.”
This security force stated that until the activation of police resources from other police units – “those resources that also came to report cases of malaise, with travel to hospital units” – and even from the Republican National Guard, it could not be certain that the game would continue. take place.
“Due to the presence of some public order incidents near the Municipal Stadium of Famalicao, although the surrounding areas could have been reinforced, the PSP, in coordination with the organizer and promoter of the event, decided that the necessary conditions for the event were not there.” he met. Realize the game,” reads a note from the PSP.
Armando Ferreira, president of the National Police Federation, was heard on SIC Notícias after the police boycott of the game, and stressed that this type of protest action – in this case over the doubling of medical leave for selected professionals – “will be repeated in other football matches”, and warned against “Things may take another dimension.”
In response to a question about whether he would admit to boycotting the legislative elections, he said that was a “strong possibility.” He stressed that “the security forces are the ones who transport ballot papers and ballot boxes.”
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