By Melody Gross 
Boavista president Vitor Morta published, on Sunday, a message on the official website of chess players protesting the skillful card. The measure, which has been implemented this season, requires that in order to gain access to some of the stands in the stadiums, fans are required to register in a database.
“I am, from the first moment, directly against the skilled card, even because of the way it was designed and executed. I am, and always will be, on the side of law and order, and always will be available to make my contribution to the fierce struggle against violence, racism and xenophobia in society and sports. But, never in this way, with laws that will only keep people out of football”, explains the Boavista leader.
Read the full message:
“The time for fans to have free access to the football field is over. It is over because someone remembered that people who intended to watch a football show – and only those – should be categorized, identified and marginalized under the guise of allegedly promoting security and combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports shows. Let me To make it clear: I personally and Boavista, as a centuries-old institution, will always be at the forefront of the fight against any kind of violence in sport.
However, I cannot agree that this fight is done with an apparent pictorial relic that persists, after nearly 50 years, even in those who beat their chests with their hands and display red carnations on some public occasion.
We all remember that not so long ago there was mass hysteria in favor of data protection. What is justified, let it be said. Everyone, without exception, has the right to privacy. everyone. We all have to keep fighting for our rights.
Therefore, it is clear to me that no one should be required to register in the state database only to gain access to a certain area of a sports venue or to access visiting areas in other places of the club. With this aggravation it only happens in football show.
I remember, as a child, being fascinated when, through my father’s hand, I entered Besa, and saw the square flags fluttering on the stands – flags included. Today, my son is not allowed to enter the stadium under the same flag that has accompanied me for years.
Under the fan card, there are several stadiums that can be closed for free access for any citizen who wants to go to watch a football match – unless they register with a government database.
For all this I am, from the first moment, facing the skilled card, even for the way it was designed and implemented. I am, and always will be, on the side of law and order, and always will be available to make my contribution to the fierce struggle against violence, racism and xenophobia in society and sports. But, never in this way, with laws that will only keep people out of football.
If all stakeholders worked together and were consulted through the process, it would have been easy to understand that it would be more than enough to allow people access to football pitches in specific areas of the respective club. but not. We chose bureaucracy. More bureaucracy, more barriers and more difficulties for football fans.
For this tournament, which started on Friday, we are already sure that it will be more difficult for any citizen to reach the football stadium in Portugal than to cross any border outside the Schengen area.”