UEFA probes trashing of Portugal under-21 dressing room PARIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - UEFA will investigate incidents at Tuesday's European under-21 championship playoff between France and Portugal after the Portuguese dressing room at Clermont-Ferrand was trashed. Portugal won in a penalty shoot-out after their 2-1 victory over 10-man France in the second leg left the two sides tied 3-3 on aggregate. L'Equipe newspaper reported on Wednesday that France under-21 manager Raymond Domenech had complained to the Portugal delegation about the damage to the dressing room. "It's a disgrace," Domenech was quoted as saying. A French federation spokesman said: "To leave a dressing room in such a state can only be done deliberately or they were out of their minds. If it was done deliberately, then that's serious." European soccer's governing body said in a statement on Wednesday: "UEFA has ordered an investigation into incidents that took place on the bench and in the dressing room." The French federation spokesman said that while passions ran high during the game, he had heard of no incidents involving players either on the bench or in the tunnel. The Portuguese delegation also refused to take part in doping controls that French officials conducted at the game. The game fell under UEFA jurisdiction and the French federation spokesman said the Portuguese were within their rights to refuse to take part in national doping controls. UEFA has also launched a disciplinary inquiry after crowd trouble marred Tuesday's under-21 qualifier between Turkey and Germany in Istanbul. Updated on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2003 11:02 am EST
Portuguese blame it on a low ceiling, that came down, the portuguese federation was represented and saw what happen, and by been young and wild, how many teams beat France at any age group.l Futebol – Sub-21 justificam incidentes com «euforia de gente jovem» ASF O «capitão» Ricardo Costa, Bruno Alves, Tiago e Raul Meireles já justificaram os estragos causados nos balneários do Estádio Gabriel Montpied, após o jogo frente à França, que valeu o apuramento de Portugal para o Campeonato da Europa de sub-21. «O que aconteceu foi o resultado de muita euforia e emoção, até porque a Direcção da Federação e os técnicos estavam lá. Atirámos pessoas ao ar e o tecto era muito baixo e frágil, pelo que acabou por cair», explicou Ricardo Costa, para quem não houve qualquer espécie de exagero nos festejos. Também Raúl Meireles justificou os incidentes nos balneários com o facto de o tecto ser demasiado baixo, mas já Bruno Alves alinhou pelo mesmo diapasão de Ricardo Costa, considerando mesmo que, caso a vitória tivesse sorrido à França, teria acontecido o mesmo. «É a euforia normal de se ter vencido um adversário muito forte. Talvez apenas se tenha festejado efusivamente de mais», realçou. A finalizar, Tiago mostrou-se o jogador com mais sentido auto-crítico deste quarteto, atribuindo os «lamentáveis» incidentes à juventude: «Foram festejos naturais entre gente jovem. Exaltámo-nos um pouco, o que foi lamentável e por isso mesmo pedimos desculpa», rematou. 19/11/2
they could do all the investigate, they want they also should investigate the Portuguese lost in the semi-finals of the Euro in 84 in France, and the semi-finals of the Euro 00 both games we got robbed by the referee
It is very unfortunately that this incident happen, according to the Portuguese coach, they apologized and assume responsibility for it...i don't think this was in any way on purpose. This is a big victory for these players and they got carried way with their joy. I know this type a ceiling, is what is called a "drop ceiling" which is usually low and made up of some very fragil tiles hold together by some really weak frame. any contact with the ceiling would cause it to brake some of these tiles. About the referee!!!why is he under investigation? because of Cisse's red card?
84 I can't remember, I don't know, but I've never heard about that, but for Euro 2000 I think that you kidding me... The english referee of this match was clearly against France, not because of Cissé red card, but if he gave a red card to Cisse, I think at least 2 protuguese players should have a red card too, one for exactly the same fault of Cisse, on Mexes, and it's him who had a yellow. the second should have been for the portuguese captain, after having 1 yellow, he made very hard faults 2 or 3 times... Many portuguese faults were not given a free kick for France but for portugal, like one on Sinama Pongolle whose shirt was totally torn, and the referee gave the free-kick for portugal... during the silver goal, France scored a goal by Sinama-Pongolle, the portuguese keeper has realesed the ball, but the referee gave a free-kick for portugal, Why? nobody knows... during the penalties, the first was stop by the french keeper, and the referee gave it to kick again because the keeper has advance other his line, this would be correct, but about every keeper do that and the portuguese keeper done that in this match... This is not bad faith, I've never seen that before, it's really a shame, but I don't think UEFA investigate on that... I don't think this is corruption, but I think this referee don't like french, I hope to never seen him again... Another thing, I'm desapointed to see that portuguese players didn't respect their hosts, and I don't understand why they refused to pass the anti-dopping controls...
what about a life suspension? I mean come on that was a red card but it was just a bad reaction and i reckon mario jorge could get an oscar as well
Come on!!!!if the referee (according to you) was against France, that is not Portugal's fault. You guys had your chances of scoring just as we did and just so happened that we scored more than you...You guys won the game in Portugal. You lost the game ON PENALTIES, not during the regular time of playing...our players just kept their cool and were more effective scoring, that is all. About we not respecting the hosts: according to what i read, the anti-dopping test was offered by the French FA and Portugal is under no obligation to comply because this game is regulated by UEFA. Portugal only has to comply with the UEFA anti-dopping tests. So tell me why didn't they respect their hosts? because of the locker room incident? i think you guys are too sensitive!!!!