Trial begins for seven Sporting supporters accused of attacking five Porto fans in Alvalade
Seven young people linked to Sporting's supporter groups are being tried for five attempted murders and ten offences against physical integrity, following an attack on a vehicle carrying FC Porto supporters near Alvalade stadium.
Trial begins for seven Sporting supporters accused of attacking five Porto fans in Alvalade
The court began hearing on Wednesday seven young Sporting supporters, aged just over 20 years old, accused of five attempted murders and ten offences against physical integrity. The facts date back to 10 June 2025, near Alvalade stadium, when a vehicle carrying five FC Porto supporters was surrounded and set on fire.
According to the prosecution, dozens of individuals prevented the victims from leaving the car and set the vehicle alight. The seven defendants are suspected of active participation in the assault.
Pedro Fazenda, who is in preventive detention, acknowledged being at the location, but sought to minimise his role, speaking only of "some kicks and punches on the vehicle". When the court presented him with video surveillance images and conversations he had exchanged with friends — in one of which he wrote that he was going to the futsal match to await the Porto fans — he was unable to maintain his initial account. He even went so far as to consider it "normal" for there to be violent confrontations between supporters of rival clubs.
Leandro Pinto, another defendant, claimed that he observed everything "10/15 metres" away and that he was identified by mistake. But when the judge asked him why he left the João Rocha pavilion and took refuge in a friend's house, he entered into contradictions. The judge questioned him directly: "Those who are innocent have nothing to fear. Why did you flee?"
Pinto admitted having been part of Juventude Leonina, although he says he no longer has any connection to the group. "I have been in prison for a year. If I hadn't been in that environment perhaps I wouldn't have been involved in this," he declared.
Five of the accused are serving preventive custody; the remaining two are under house arrest.
Source: Correio da Manhã
Source: Correio da Manhã