In a press statement to present the document in Lisbon, Eduardo Cabrita stressed the “lack of cooperation” with the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) by Alvalad Club in the investigation of the title case.
Eduardo Cabreta confirmed that “Sporting Club de Portugal did not respond to any of the requests for clarification made by the International Federation of Championships.” According to the minister, within the scope of this inquiry about the performance of the PSP, steps have been taken with “a very diverse number of institutions” and “everyone has responded and cooperated with the public inspection”, with the exception of the National Champion Club.
Eduardo Cabreta added that the IGAI makes these requests within the scope of its competences defined in its statute, which provides for “the power to address public and private entities within the scope of the realization of their mandate.”
“This obligation already rests with Sporting” as an enterprise of public interest, the minister said, a law that sets out a “special obligation to cooperate”, adding that the report would be sent to the Minister of Education, who oversees the field of sports.
The minister also said that PSP guidelines for tournament festivities were not adhered to.
Kabrita also considers that the right to demonstrate, which was invoked to allow fans to gather in the stadium, was “offensive”, and requests a review of the relevant law.
The minister, who has nothing to do with this focus of supporters within the framework of the reasons why every day, legitimately exercises the right to demonstrate for political, union and religious reasons.”
Then the Minister of Internal Administration announced that the government would submit a legislative proposal, to be presented to the Council of the Republic, to review the exercise of the right to assembly and demonstration. He added, “We will, in my office, in conjunction with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, prepare a proposal to review Decree Law 406/74, which regulates the exercise of the right of assembly and demonstration.”
According to the minister, the current decree-law on this issue is still “unconstitutional” and the government will proceed with an appropriate legislative initiative – a bill – that will be presented to the Council of the Republic for consideration and vote.
And so Eduardo Cabrita is pointing the accusing finger at the club, but also at the Lisbon City Council, relieving the police of responsibility for the way the festivities were held. Indeed, Kabrita asks, “Who authorizes demonstrations? Chamber or ministry?” (Legally, demonstrations do not need a permit. Indeed, Article 45 of the constitution states that the right to assemble and demonstrate exists “without the need for any licence.”)
The PSP wanted the celebrations to be held inside the stadium, but that was not the will of the club, which coordinated the celebrations with the local authority led by Fernando Medina.
Today, in Lisbon, the Minister of the Interior presented the results of the report on the CP Sporting Celebrations.
The report aims to take a look at the performance of the PSP on May 11 and 12 this year. The Interior Ministry received the report on Monday.
The Ministry of the Interior confirms receipt today [12 de julho], issued by the General Inspection of the Internal Administration, transmitted the investigation report on the interference of the Public Security Police in the framework of the celebrations promoted by Sporting Club de Portugal that took place on 11 May 12 May 2021”, the Ministry transmitted under the direction of Eduardo Cabrita, in a reply sent to the Lusa Agency, On the day the 60-day period granted to IGAI has expired.
The IGAI investigation, whose mission is to ensure the audit, inspection and inspection functions of all entities, services and bodies supervised by the Ministry of the Interior, aims at the performance of the Public Security Police at the ceremonies.
Sporting was crowned Portuguese football champion on May 11 for the 19th time, 19 years after the last victory, and clashes occurred during the celebrations between his supporters and the police.
Thousands of people gathered near the stadium and in some streets of Lisbon, violating the rules of the state of disaster due to the Covid-19 epidemic, where no more than 10 people are allowed on public roads, nor alcoholic drinks are allowed on a street.
Most supporters also failed to comply with public health rules by not respecting social distancing, nor the mandatory use of masks.
At the time, the PSP noted, in a statement, that celebrations by sports fans in some places in Lisbon had resulted in “relevant changes in public order” and that it was necessary to strengthen the police apparatus “to restore public order and calm”. and “containing disturbances” which consists in “throwing dangerous objects in the direction of the police, including glass bottles, stones and fireworks, which also infect other citizens.”
The PSP alleged that it used law enforcement, including shooting rubber bullets, to address “disorderly and hostile behavior by some supporters”.
PSP arrested three people, identified 30 others, and confiscated 63 pyrotechnic devices.
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