Proença calls for VAT reduction, PRR for infrastructure and "union" between clubs

From the Liga Portugal to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), of which he is now president, Pedro Proença continues to make VAT on sports events one of his main struggles.

In his inauguration speech this Monday, the former referee lamented the "negative discrimination" against football in the tax field.

"VAT on sporting events must be equal to that of any other event held in Portugal. We do not want it to be less than the others, but we want this abuse and this tremendous injustice to end," he points out.

Proença also highlights the need to "retain the talent" that is being formed in Portugal: "The IRS on high-potential athletes under the age of 23 will require an urgent response."

The new president of the FPF also highlights the "biggest critical growth factor" of Portuguese football as the lack of sports infrastructure, for which he calls for a national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). And he gives an example.

"We live in a country where training for girls and young women aged 13, 14 and 15 is pushed back to 8, 9 and 10 pm because before that the fields are occupied by boys", laments the president of the FPF, for whom, "if we want to prove that we are committed to women, to gender equality, to equal opportunities", changes must be made: "If we do not have the PRR, a bazooka, for sports infrastructures, the country will continue to grow in anaemic groups of practitioners."

Arbitration, discipline and the World Cup

Pedro Proença also focuses on the Arbitration and Disciplinary Councils, for whom he promises "autonomy", without failing to offer conditions.

"Arbitration and Discipline need us. (...) Professionalize everything and everyone and demand maximum responsibility. Explain, explain, explain without fear. Humanize habits and translate disciplinary decisions. Make reducing decision deadlines a guaranteed objective", he stresses.

One of Proença's struggles as president of the League was the centralization of the championship's audiovisual rights, "a kind of ever-delayed coming of age." And he asks: "Not one step back."

In the field of international football, Pedro Proença highlights that the path to organizing the 2030 World Cup, which will be held jointly with Spain and Morocco, "requires that we are up to the task".

He also emphasizes that, for the future of the various national teams, there is only one objective: "To win. To win a lot."

Peace between the big three

Back in club football, Pedro Proença appeals for help from FC Porto, Sporting and Benfica in fostering unity.

"Football is a team game. We can't win any game alone. It's a fact that Benfica, Porto and Sporting are our biggest clubs. But Braga is already challenging the tripartite logic. And others will follow because the top of the pyramid requires capacity, competence and a collective spirit in the future", he maintains.

Finally, a guarantee. Pedro Proença warns, upon taking office as the new president of the FPF, that his program "is not to be fulfilled, but to be surpassed".