“I admit that some messages might indicate a kind of plan, not criminal, but a plan. The problem is that, afterward, in the execution of that plan, there is no proof,” stated Adélia Moreira as she entered the São João Novo Court in Porto, where today, at 2:00 PM, the judicial decision will be read.
The trial, which began on March 17, involves 12 defendants: Fernando Madureira, his wife Sandra Madureira, Vítor Catão, Hugo Polaco, Vítor Aleixo and his son of the same name, Fernando Saul, Carlos Jamaica, Hugo Loureiro, José Pereira, Fábio Sousa, and José Dias.
A total of 31 crimes are at issue, most of which are co-authored: seven of physical assault at a sports event, 19 of aggravated coercion, one of public incitement to a crime, one of throwing an object or liquid product, and three of attacks on freedom of information. Hugo Loureiro also faces a charge of possessing a prohibited weapon.
The Public Prosecutor (MP) has called for effective prison sentences of more than five years for Fernando Madureira, Sandra Madureira, Vítor Catão, Hugo Polaco, and the two Vítor Aleixo. Fernando Madureira remains in pre-trial detention since January 31, 2024, while Vítor Catão is under house arrest, and Hugo Polaco has been released.
During the final arguments, prosecutor Susana Catarino advocated for harsher penalties for Fernando and Sandra Madureira, whom she considers responsible for allegedly planning the disturbances, and suspended sentences for the other defendants.
The defense teams requested acquittal and accused the MP of not seeking “the truth of the facts” related to the extraordinary General Assembly of FC Porto on November 13, 2023.
According to the accusation, the defendants supposedly acted in concert to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear among the members, aiming to influence the vote on a statutory revision just months before the club elections, which led André Villas-Boas to the club presidency in April 2024.
