Sporting Lisbon hits back at UEFA after being named on financial shame list

Estdio Jos_Alvalade_17-09-12

By Andrew Warshaw

September 17 – Sporting Lisbon has criticised UEFA’s decision to name it among 23 clubs who have not fulfilled their financial obligations.

The club, one of the three biggest in Portugal, was identified last week as being among 23 clubs currently competing in European competition who have been found to have “important overdue payables towards other clubs, and/or towards employees or social/tax authorities”.

As a result, UEFA said its Club Financial Control Body’s (CFCB) investigatory chamber has temporarily withheld the clubs’ prize money pending further investigation.

“I can’t say I am pleased with the ruckus around this issue,” said Sporting President Godinho Lopes.

“I was sad to see Sporting’s name mentioned; there was a communication error.”

José Guedes, the club’s vice-president in charge of financial affairs, claimed UEFA had set a deadline of October 14 to comply.

He said Sporting had no issue when it came to being late with salaries.

“The case is related to payments to football clubs and the sums are really not too big,” Guedes added.

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