Gelson Martins is among a contingent of Sporting Lisbon players terminating their contracts.GETTY IMAGES
Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton are among the Premier League clubs "put on alert after the chaos unfolding" at Primeira Liga side Sporting Lisbon resulted in six players terminating their contracts, according to Jacob & Cotton of the LONDON TIMES. The north London clubs have been interested in Gelson Martins, while Everton "could be interested in William Carvalho," the midfielder who worked with Marco Silva when he was in charge of Sporting and was "subject to an offer from West Ham United last summer." The players have sent a formal notification to the Portuguese club that there is a "valid motive" to free themselves from their contracts after the squad was suspended for losing to Atlético Madrid in the Europa League quarterfinals. Sporting then missed out on a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds after losing the final game of the season, "which prompted about 50 gang members, wearing balaclavas, to break into the club's training ground at Alcochete in mid-May." The supporters assaulted players and coaching staff and vandalized the dressing rooms, leading to 23 arrests (LONDON TIMES, 6/12). The AP reported in April, club President Bruno De Carvalho "harshly criticized his team's performance" against Atlético Madrid in the Europa League, and "pointed out mistakes by individual players on social media." The players responded by posting a joint statement "defending their commitment to the club and questioning the manners of De Carvalho," saying that he should support them as their "leader." There were recent reports -- all unconfirmed -- "blaming De Carvalho for the attacks by fans on the players and coaches" (AP, 6/11).
Bruno de Carvalho offered to resign if players withdraw their threats to leave the club.GETTY IMAGES
'CONCERTED ATTACK': REUTERS' Andrei Khalip reported de Carvalho "offered to stand down if key players withdraw their threats to leave the club in protest" at his behavior. De Carvalho had rejected calls by senior club members to stand down, accusing his critics of blackmail and "a concerted attack on Sporting." But after Monday’s move, the president said, "We will resign if the athletes write a letter to Sporting saying, firstly, that if this management quits they will reverse their terminations and play for Sporting. ... Secondly, if we run and get elected again, they maintain their contracts." De Carvalho "has refused to accept the legitimacy of a proposed vote on June 23 to depose him and his colleagues" (REUTERS, 6/12).
