Mourinho Former Club Porto UEFATrophy Scandal

By Kilroy Serge
December 6 2004

Porto President Jorge Nuno Pinta da Costa is being investigated for corruption offences that include attempting to influence referees. The alleged offences go back as far as the UEFA Vase win over Celtic.

The investigation has led to the arrest of referees and a players agent.

Four referees were held overnight (stop cheering at the back there) before their release.

The investigation is a result of 15 months of phone tapping and detective work. The Portugese police believe there is a strong indication of corruption and the influencing of referees.

What is amazing about the whole of affair is how little press coverage there has been. The information leaked out through Celtic supporters' websites and message boards.

I doubt if the referee of the UEFA Vase final was bent, but it means that if allegations were proved then Porto could have qualified for Europe in matches with bent referees. If that was ever proved to be true then it could  be demonstrated that Porto won a tainted trophy. Should they really be allowed to keep it? In the real world the Olympics committee would remove any trophy unfairly won.