Sporting CP manager Jorge Jesus has denied the claim that 19 of his players were suspended following a war of words between president Bruno de Carvalho and vice-captain Rui Patricio.
Reports over the weekend suggested that a huge fallout between Carvalho and the Sporting team led to the club president suspending 19 first-team players after goalkeeper Rui Patricio posted an Instagram picture criticising the ownership of the club.
However, nine of the alleged 19 suspended played – including protagonist Patricio – as Sporting ran out 2-0 victors at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
This sparked a response from Patricio, who defended his teammates in a lengthy Instagram post, to which Carvalho retaliated – in a now deleted Facebook post – saying that those who supported Patricio were suspended from the side. NaijaBet.com
Talking to reporters, according to BBC Sport, he said: “There was no suspension given to anyone.
“The players, president and coaching staff had a meeting, which will remain private within the team.
“What is important was the liberty that I was given by the president to play players of my choosing.”
Reports also surfaced that the Sporting players were refusing to train with the club, but Jesus rebuffed any such claim.
He continued: “There was never any refusal to practice from any player.
“Only back when I was a player did we refuse to practice because we weren’t paid for seven months, that doesn’t happen here.”
