FC Porto manager Sérgio Conceição on Monday filed a legal complaint against a Spanish town’s mayor over a reported fight at the end of an under-9s match in a club competition in the Huelva region of Spain.
Porto told ESPN that Conceição, who was accused by the mayor of Cartaya of hitting a referee, the mayor himself and Spanish police, has filed a complaint against the mayor in question for physically pushing one of his sons.
The club confirmed Conceição intends to take further legal action for defamation as a result of the mayor’s retelling of his version of events on a local Spanish radio station.
According to the Portuguese club, the manager went onto the field after a game at the competition to ask the referee about an incident which “had left the parents of many of the players sad at seeing the disappointment of their children.”
As he entered the pitch, one of Conceição’s sons was allegedly pushed by mayor Manuel Barroso and Conceição stepped in to try and break up the confusion and prevent Barroso from “attacking” his son again, according to the two-time Champions League-winning club.
“A criminal complaint was filed yesterday, immediately after the events, against mayor Manuel Barroso for attempted assault on Sérgio Conceição’s son,” a statement obtained by ESPN from Conceição’s lawyer said.
“We deny the accusations made by the same mayor, which have no basis in truth. In view of the news published in the meantime, we will also move forward with a complaint for defamatory allegations against mayor Manuel Barroso.”
ESPN reached out to Barroso and the mayor’s office for comment on Conceição’s allegations but did not immediately receive a response.
The Porto team was playing at the Gañafote Cup, a tournament where age-group teams from several European clubs meet.