Restrictions on closing cafes will not be effective after Benfica-Sporting match if there is no champion

The mandatory closure of around 60 establishments in Lisbon, near Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will be without effect after the Benfica-Sporting game, if there is no national football champion.

Lisbon City Council, through a municipal order, determined that nearly 60 restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in the Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII areas must close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, due to possible celebrations for the champion of the main football league.

The decision was justified “for security reasons” and after a request from the Public Security Police (PSP), within the scope of the possibility of the Portuguese football title being awarded on Saturday, in the Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting, which starts at 18:00 at Estádio da Luz.

After this first order, the local authority made an addendum, also dated Wednesday, taking into account that “doubts arose regarding the imperativeness of compliance” with the measure if the national football champion is not found.

Thus, in the addendum, CML clarifies that the municipal order “ceases its effects at the end of the game on 10/05/2025, if the national football champion is not determined on that date”.

The initial document, dated Wednesday and sent to Lusa by the Lisbon City Council (CML), mentions “the request from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police […] to restrict the opening hours of several commercial establishments”, in more than a dozen streets in the capital.

The Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP) expressed concern about the economic impact of the early closure, stating, however, that it understands the decision.

“Although we understand the need to guarantee public order, we cannot fail to point out the economic impact that this measure entails, especially for businesses that depend on the influx of people on busy days,” stated AHRESP, in response to the Lusa news agency.

Usually, to celebrate winning the championship, fans of both clubs gather at the Marquês de Pombal roundabout and the surrounding area.

In a press conference held the day before the game, the PSP announced “dynamic policing” for this Saturday's derby, on the 33rd round of the I League, which could decide the 2024/25 national football champion.

“What is planned is dynamic policing, based on the risk assessment that will be carried out at the end of the game and, accordingly, we will adopt either policing focused on the Estádio da Luz or policing focused on the Estádio José Alvalade”, announced superintendent Manuel Gonçalves.

The official also added that, in the context of the Sporting team being crowned winners and leaving for the celebrations at their stadium, “there will be traffic constraints, which will be temporary in some places”.

At his side, Chief Superintendent Luís Elias acknowledged that, despite the risk assessment being the same as in previous classics, the operation to be mounted will be more complex.

According to Luís Elias, it is necessary to simultaneously focus attention on two stadiums separated by a few kilometres and also on the Marquês de Pombal square, where there could be a very large crowd if Sporting or Benfica win the national title and even a possible crossover of rival fans depending on the result of the match being balanced and even dictating the outcome of the championship in the final minutes.

The mandatory closure of around 60 establishments in Lisbon, near Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will be without effect after the Benfica-Sporting game, if there is no national football champion.

Lisbon City Council, through a municipal order, determined that nearly 60 restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in the Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII areas must close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, due to possible celebrations for the champion of the main football league.

The decision was justified “for security reasons” and after a request from the Public Security Police (PSP), within the scope of the possibility of the Portuguese football title being awarded on Saturday, in the Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting, which starts at 18:00 at Estádio da Luz.

After this first order, the local authority made an addendum, also dated Wednesday, taking into account that “doubts arose regarding the imperativeness of compliance” with the measure if the national football champion is not found.

Thus, in the addendum, CML clarifies that the municipal order “ceases its effects at the end of the game on 10/05/2025, if the national football champion is not determined on that date”.

The initial document, dated Wednesday and sent to Lusa by the Lisbon City Council (CML), mentions “the request from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police […] to restrict the opening hours of several commercial establishments”, in more than a dozen streets in the capital.

The Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP) expressed concern about the economic impact of the early closure, stating, however, that it understands the decision.

“Although we understand the need to guarantee public order, we cannot fail to point out the economic impact that this measure entails, especially for businesses that depend on the influx of people on busy days,” stated AHRESP, in response to the Lusa news agency.

Usually, to celebrate winning the championship, fans of both clubs gather at the Marquês de Pombal roundabout and the surrounding area.

In a press conference held the day before the game, the PSP announced “dynamic policing” for this Saturday's derby, on the 33rd round of the I League, which could decide the 2024/25 national football champion.

“What is planned is dynamic policing, based on the risk assessment that will be carried out at the end of the game and, accordingly, we will adopt either policing focused on the Estádio da Luz or policing focused on the Estádio José Alvalade”, announced superintendent Manuel Gonçalves.

The official also added that, in the context of the Sporting team being crowned winners and leaving for the celebrations at their stadium, “there will be traffic constraints, which will be temporary in some places”.

At his side, Chief Superintendent Luís Elias acknowledged that, despite the risk assessment being the same as in previous classics, the operation to be mounted will be more complex.

According to Luís Elias, it is necessary to simultaneously focus attention on two stadiums separated by a few kilometres and also on the Marquês de Pombal square, where there could be a very large crowd if Sporting or Benfica win the national title and even a possible crossover of rival fans depending on the result of the match being balanced and even dictating the outcome of the championship in the final minutes.

The mandatory closure of around 60 establishments in Lisbon, near Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will be without effect after the Benfica-Sporting game, if there is no national football champion.

Lisbon City Council, through a municipal order, determined that nearly 60 restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in the Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII areas must close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, due to possible celebrations for the champion of the main football league.

The decision was justified “for security reasons” and after a request from the Public Security Police (PSP), within the scope of the possibility of the Portuguese football title being awarded on Saturday, in the Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting, which starts at 18:00 at Estádio da Luz.

After this first order, the local authority made an addendum, also dated Wednesday, taking into account that “doubts arose regarding the imperativeness of compliance” with the measure if the national football champion is not found.

Thus, in the addendum, CML clarifies that the municipal order “ceases its effects at the end of the game on 10/05/2025, if the national football champion is not determined on that date”.

The initial document, dated Wednesday and sent to Lusa by the Lisbon City Council (CML), mentions “the request from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police […] to restrict the opening hours of several commercial establishments”, in more than a dozen streets in the capital.

The Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP) expressed concern about the economic impact of the early closure, stating, however, that it understands the decision.

“Although we understand the need to guarantee public order, we cannot fail to point out the economic impact that this measure entails, especially for businesses that depend on the influx of people on busy days,” stated AHRESP, in response to the Lusa news agency.

Usually, to celebrate winning the championship, fans of both clubs gather at the Marquês de Pombal roundabout and the surrounding area.

In a press conference held the day before the game, the PSP announced “dynamic policing” for this Saturday's derby, on the 33rd round of the I League, which could decide the 2024/25 national football champion.

“What is planned is dynamic policing, based on the risk assessment that will be carried out at the end of the game and, accordingly, we will adopt either policing focused on the Estádio da Luz or policing focused on the Estádio José Alvalade”, announced superintendent Manuel Gonçalves.

The official also added that, in the context of the Sporting team being crowned winners and leaving for the celebrations at their stadium, “there will be traffic constraints, which will be temporary in some places”.

At his side, Chief Superintendent Luís Elias acknowledged that, despite the risk assessment being the same as in previous classics, the operation to be mounted will be more complex.

According to Luís Elias, it is necessary to simultaneously focus attention on two stadiums separated by a few kilometres and also on the Marquês de Pombal square, where there could be a very large crowd if Sporting or Benfica win the national title and even a possible crossover of rival fans depending on the result of the match being balanced and even dictating the outcome of the championship in the final minutes.