The accusations first came from Manuel Barroso, the mayor of Cartaya in Spain, who claimed that the Porto boss had assaulted multiple people including himself, the referee and police officers at the scene. Conceicao filed his own complaint claiming that Barroso had pushed his son during the Under 9s match.
Speaking to the media, Conceicao said [via CM Journal]: “I will leave football if I have to prove the truth. My honour, what I am as a man, as a father, is much more important.
“I always accompanied my children on their journeys. I had two of my children playing for different clubs [Benfica and Sporting] and I was always very respected. I would visit them and watch some games, both in Seixal and in Alcochete, and I never had a problem. This is exhausting.
“These are false and lying accusations from someone who should have the responsibility and duty of being a person above authority in Spain, which I didn’t know about. My lawyers are in Spain to do what needs to be done.
On Barroso: “He attacked, not once, but several times, a 22-year-old young man who happens to be my son [Moisés, who was also watching the game]. Then he went into a barrage of lies and accusations that have practically all been denied by those present. Finally, he lost the narrative of his statements due to the amount of lies, which caused enormous damage to mine and other families, to the tournament and the city.”
After listening to the mayor recount his version of events on Spanish radio, Conceicao has already informed Porto that he will file a defamation lawsuit against Barroso. According to the club, after Conceicao asked the referee about an incident, Barroso shoved his son, which prompted the coach to intervene and break up the fight.
With the defamation lawsuit already announced, it’ll only be a matter of time before the legal runaround will begin for Conceicao’s legal team. Meanwhile, the Portuguese will remain concentrated on his club as they take on Estoril on Saturday, March 30.
