This is the second similar process in which the president of Sporting is exonerated, having previously been acquitted for calling the former president of FC Porto a “criminal”.
The president of Sporting, Frederico Varandas, was acquitted of the crime of defaming Pinto da Costa, a former FC Porto counterpart, whom he called an “active corruptor” in 2022, a source linked to the process told Lusa news agency.
In line with the decision handed down in July 2025 by the Local Criminal Court of Lisbon, the Court of Appeal concluded that, following an appeal filed by the widow of the now deceased leader of the ‘dragons’, The words used by the leader of the two-time national football champions are protected by the right to freedom of expression.
“When the defendant states that the assistant [Pinto da Costa] is an active corruptor, he does so taking into account a specific process in which he was accused and pronounced guilty of committing a crime of active sports corruption. The expressions made, despite the assistant not having been convicted, are not susceptible to criminal protection, falling within the right to opinion and criticism”, maintained the Relationship, whose decision is not subject to appeal.
In March 2022, Frederico Varandas reformulated “bandit” to “active corruptor” the qualification made two years earlier to Pinto da Costa, when commenting on the opening of a case in which he was accused of defaming the then president of FC Porto.
“Nobody ever intends to offend anyone when they tell the truth. I just told the truth and the truth doesn’t offend. But, if you want to change the word, I can change the criminal to an active corruptor, it’s more elegant”, said the leader of the ‘lions’, speaking to journalists.
Frederico Varandas was acquitted in two instancesjust as, on January 28, the Court of Appeal of Porto ruled in favor of him in the judgment of the case associated with the attribution of the expression “bandit” to Pinto da Costa, a sentence also justified by the exercise of freedom of expression.
In this process, the Court of Appeal contradicted the decision of the Bolhão Court, which, when considering that the Frederico Varandas’ statements went beyond the right of reply, had sentenced the president of Sporting seven months ago to pay 12,200 euros to Pinto da Costa’s heirs – 7,200 euros for defamation, plus 5,000 euros for non-pecuniary damages.
