This Saturday, Santa Clara issued a statement in response to Moreirense, from He refused to postpone the second round match of the first league, scheduled for next Sunday.

NS Request for postponement by the Azoreans came based on In nine positive cases of covid-19 virus in players, while the calendar is also intense for Daniel Ramos, who played Thursday in Slovenia against Olympia Ljubljana, Winning 1-0 with only 14 players.

The Azorean Club says that this rejection by Morrence was “mild” and that this was “a decision contrary to the values ​​of sporting truth, but above all a complete contempt for one of the most precious things: public health.”

Minho also recalled the defeat he suffered in Rio Ave (2-0), on October 31, 2020, in the sixth round of the 2020/2021 League, when they competed “only with one goalkeeper and five athletes on the bench, without spearheads. Or the technical team”, due to a similar outbreak of covid-19, which suspended the club’s activities.

In response, Santa Clara said that at that meeting “Morriense had 16 athletes available to go to the match, without having to manage the physical effort, as the team only participated in the Portuguese Championship and Cup. Now, as of today, and in a much shorter period, the Santa Clara CD contains six games, which adds natural wear from dozens of hours of travel.”

“So, pay attention to the perplexing and misleading argument made: Moreirense, last season, had 16 athletes to compete. CD Santa Clara has 14 athletes for three players, one of whom represents the country in European football (conference league), which, unfortunately, does not attract any kind of interest from Moreirense managers”, states the note from the Azoreans.

Full statement from Santa Clara:

«Come to Santa Clara Azores, Futebol SAD hereby informs that:

– After several contacts and awareness from different sides, Morernency Football Club ended slightly the proposal to postpone the match of the second round of LIGA BWIN scheduled for next Sunday, a decision contrary to the values ​​​​of true sport, but above all, with complete disregard for one of the most precious commodities: public health.

– Morens claims that, last season, he went through a similar situation, when the sixth round of the Liga NOS was bypassed, also moved into the match. The truth is that short memory, unfortunately, is such a defining characteristic of Portuguese football that Moreirense’s managers deliberately and easily canceled the postponement of the match of the seventh round of the NOS League (20-21), when the team was facing the outbreak of the disease. Covid.

– Moreover, he also forgot that at that time, in the sixth round of the competition, Moreirense had 16 athletes available to go to the match, without the need to manage the physical effort, since the team participated only in the championship and the cup. Portugal. Now, as of today, and in a much shorter period, CD Santa Clara contains six games, which adds natural wear and tear from dozens of hours of travel.

– Pay attention, then, to the confused and misleading argument made: Moreirense, last season, had 16 athletes to compete. CD Santa Clara has 14 athletes for three players, one of whom represents the country in football (conference league), which, unfortunately, does not attract any kind of attention from Moreirense managers.

This decision not only violates the primal values ​​of the Portuguese championship, which we often take pride in spreading, but also tramples on the values ​​of health and safety, at the expense of the incalculable desire for sporting results, in a careless and greedy way.

Fortunately, CD Santa Clara has the insight to not confuse people and institutions. Contrary to the war logic that others assume, we respect and always respect Morerense club, hoping that the season that is taking place now will be fruitful in terms of achievements and victories.

We also take the opportunity to wish a speedy recovery to all the athletes, managers and staff affected by COVID19, and also express our confidence in the 14 brave Azores who are available to go into the game. »