“Dragon Garage Case”: TCA Sul annuls the penalties applied to Rui Cerqueira – FC Porto

On the other hand, the Central Administrative Court of the South imposed a fine of 16,320 euros on FC Porto

The classic between FC Porto and Sporting, on February 11, 2022, is still moving. In connection with what became known as the ‘Dragon Garage Case’, the Central Administrative Court of the South (TCA do Sul) overturned the sentence imposed on FC Porto’s press director, Rui Cerqueira, to 115 days of suspension and a fine of €3,825. . On the other hand, in the ruling of April 13, TCA do Sul retains the penalty applicable to FC Porto SAD, at €16,320.

Initially, the Disciplinary Board (CD) of the Portuguese Football Association handed Rui Cerqueira this penalty, because he “hit with one hand on the right hand” of Frederico Varandas, “as he was holding his cell phone film which caused the immediate fall of the cell phone”. The Porto press director appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which dismissed his claim and fully upheld the CD ruling. Now, after a new appeal, TCA do Sul has given the right to Rui Cerqueira, who has always claimed that he never attacked the Sporting president.

Regarding FC Porto’s SAD, the fine imposed on her by CD is due to a post on the social network Twitter, made shortly after what happened in Dragão’s garage, with a picture of a mobile phone on the ground and the following comment: “Pinto da Costa, 40 years out of Lisbon.” Well, the Dragons appealed first to TAD and now to TCA South, but either way they weren’t given a reason.

By Nuno Barbosa