Moedas booed at the reception to Sporting

The Mayor of Lisbon was booed during practically the entire speech he gave at the reception this Monday for the two-time national football champion Sporting, whom he praised for Saturday's victory. “You have never lacked attitude,” he said.

“I am so proud to be here with you. (…) You have proven that Sporting is one of the greatest institutions in the world. When ‘mister’ Rui Borges arrived, he said: ‘when inspiration is lacking, don’t lack attitude’, and that is what you have: attitude”, he declared, quoted by the Lusa news agency.

Moedas, according to the Lusa news agency, took a long time to start speaking, given the boos from the thousands of 'leonino' fans in Praça do Município, and the mayor, moreover, asked several times to speak, without success.

At one point, he was silenced by leonine chants, preventing the mayor from speaking, and when he resumed speaking, he continued to be booed, continuing his speech above the boos.

Moedas stressed “attitude” as a summary of the season, “even when everything seemed impossible, when doubts multiplied”. “Even then, you never lacked attitude”, he highlighted, addressing the players.

“As someone once said, there are no flowery paths that lead to glory. This team was proof of that. President, you are the pride of the city, of the country,” said Moedas.

On the players' side, Nuno Santos, one of those who spoke before the reception on the town hall's balcony, in front of thousands of fans in Praça do Município, highlighted the “difficult season” crowned, with the support of “the 12th player”, the fans, with the national title.

Nuno Santos recalled that “there is still one more final to win”, in this case the Portuguese Cup, against rivals Benfica, on Sunday, which could mean the seventh double for the green and whites.