1.22 The Rise and Fall of Bruno de Carvalho - The Communications
In this bonus post in the series we'll rewind you back to the spring of 2018 and replay some of the events that unfolded which ultimately culminated in the darkest day in the history of Sporting Clube de Portugal through the eyes and more importantly the actual words of some of the main protagonists in this sorry tale. If you already thought to date that this series couldn't all possible be true then I'm not sure what follows is going to help you in anyway, shape or form. Some of what was said, especially from Bruno De Carvalho quite literally beggars belief.
I think it's fair to say that the players had elected their club captain Rui Patrício as their official spokesperson and the first line of communication with the club president Bruno de Carvalho. I've hinted in previous posts that around this time he's not a well man. Now I'm not a doctor, I don't have access to the man's medical history and neither do I wish to be sued at a future point in time. That being said, never the most stable of characters his mental fragility is laid bare in a series of exchanges with the club captain. Way, way back in part one of the series I specifically made the point of briefly outlining my own story because I felt like I'd be a hypocrite for calling out de Carvalho's questionable behaviour without first acknowledging my own. Most importantly when you've been in a dark place you recognise it with other people's behaviour. I cannot ever condone his behaviour or my own for the matter. Some find in their heart to find forgiveness and for that we're always truly thankful especially when you still don't think it's warranted. But whereas I've always tried to be fully accountable for my actions I don't think he's ever tried to take ownership of his. Despite the courts deciding that he didn't order the attacks on the players in Alcochete, you cannot deny his culpability on certain levels and that he poured fuel onto the fire and nearly everything that occurs can be directly laid back to his door one way or another. Ultimately it's up to you the reader to draw your own conclusions from what has been presented to you over the series of these posts. In a court of law I may be seen to be leading the witnesses but whilst certain parts are written in my own words, they are still based on documented evidence. Some parties may dispute the finer details as to much of what happened, especially in the final stages of Bruno de Carvalho's reign. It goes without saying that If you have a conversation between two people behind closed doors then you're always going to potentially have two sides of a story if both parties disagree on the events and never know the truth because they were the only ones who truly knew what went on and what was said.
When my behaviour went down a dark path I knew full well what I was doing. I was on a path to self destruction and my motto quite frankly was fuck the consequences. I did not care at all. You could come for me all you liked and actually my personal preference was to be pushed into a corner because I'd have an excuse to come out fighting and if you were going to take me on then believe me by the end of it there would only be one person standing. What no one got to see was the fragility all that anger was so cleverly disguising. The worse my behaviour got the more I was able to distance you from how broken I and my life was at that time. I was choosing to drink myself to death. The fact I'm here to even write any of this down is frankly a miracle in itself. Did I abuse my position of power? Yes. Can all this type of behaviour be shifted onto the example of someone else? Again, that's ultimately for you to decide.
These weren't dated so please note any dates shown are from me cross referencing them. But what follows is a series of messages sent from de Carvalho to Rui Patrício. We'll assume that the words within the [ ] were not in the original message and added for context by someone else.
January 19th, 2018 following the clubs 1-2 draw to Vitória de Setúbal.
I am the President. As such I have to be by your [the team's] side in the good moments and bad ones.
But I'm also a professional and fan of this club that I love.
This result [Draw against Vitória de Setúbal] put me in a nervous state that I didn't deserve. I had go to the hospital because of that. I don't deserve it, my family that needs me doesn't deserve it, Sporting fans don't deserve it.
I live my role as the President with love but it's also my professional life and each bad result puts that at stake.
Thousands of Sporting fans go to the stadiums throughout the country, without having money to eat afterwards.
I know well that nothing other than 2 points was lost today but truth be told we inflicted sadness upon millions of people that only ask of you to make them happy. [I hope] that today was the last frustration of the season. That from now on we only give happiness to Sporting fans, they deserve it.
There's no point in losing points and crying. We have to cry if need be to reach the 3 points. [I hope] That today is the definite turning point.
Nothing is won until the referee blows the final whistle and we are too professional to commit mistakes.
Attitude and Compromise to win the 4 competitions we are disputing! This season we can't fail. This season we have no more excuses to give. This year each objective we miss will be totally unforgivable and only us will be guilty. We take from these frustrations the final hope to win everything because I will not tolerate anything else.
I give what I have and what I don't have and I can't have bad days or manage well and bad. For me to put Sporting where it is now I had to never commit mistakes, I had to fight until near death every single day, not allow failures and manage every challenge as a battle to always win because only always winning we win war.
It's enough! We will all fight together without excuses or failures. We have more than 3 million and half people suffering for us. Our only duty is to provide them with happiness!
Attitude and Compromise to reach all Glory.
Bruno de Carvalho
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Contextually it's probably worth noting they today as I
write it's May the 1st, 2026. There's a chance that you're reading this way in
the future having stumbled upon it by chance, so if that's the case the
following happened with Sporting CP this week; On Sunday we went away to AVS
who were bottom of the table, already relegated and there's a slim chance that
they won't break the 15 points set by FC Penafiel as the world's worst total
set by a club in the Portuguese top flight. On Wednesday night to compound
matters further we threw away a 2-0 lead to second bottom Tondela. They scored
twice in 3 minutes of added time for a 2-2 draw and with that result went out
chances of automatically qualifying for the Champions League next season. Sound
familiar? Today however despite a really poor April in which we won once
against Estrela, got knocked out of the Champions League quarter finals to
Arsenal, lost the Dérbi de Lisboa in additional time and only drew twice with
the leagues bottom two sides, we renewed the contract of the mister Rui Borges.
To the best of my knowledge on Sunday the current club president Varandas
wasn't messaging Trincão, who was captain against AVS in the absence of Hjulmand
through injury, to say you've saddened three and a half million fans around the
world. He won't have said to him ‘This year each objective we miss will be
totally unforgivable.’ Sporting in Bruno de Carvalho's first season with his first mister Leonardo
Jardim, finished second. What did he do? He sacked him.
It is always someone elses fault with Bruno de Carvalho. There is NEVER an acceptance of wrong doing or any culpability.
Whereas Federico Varandas today, and I'll paraphrase his words,
basically said 'we've faith in the mister as the right man to lead the club
forward. That the perceived failure to not win a third straight league title
was something the hierarchy accepted their culpability for. That they'd go away
and try to learn from their mistakes.' Oh what a difference eight years make. Yes
players still want to leave and sometimes it's in acrimonious circumstances
like Gyökeres last summer. But Varandas was found guilty in the public sphere
of not kowtowing to the players demands, his agents threats or Arsenal's
attempts to sign Sportings best player under his market value. Gyökeres went on
strike, didn't turn up for pre-season training, finished his relationship with
his then girlfriend and yet despite all that still received a warm welcome from
the clubs fans on his return with Arsenal to the José Alvalade. In a season
where Porto have constantly attacked Rui Borges, Varandas and the name of
Sporting CP they've both responded in kind with dignity and often with humour. Morita
announced last summer his intention not to sign a new contract and yet the club
decided to keep him for his last season. We've not heard a peep of discontent
from the Japanese midfielder. When Diomande's deal to join Crystal Palace fell
through last summer we heard no rumblings of discontent and the club re-signed
him on a better contract. A deal has clearly been stuck to allow club captain
Morten Hjulmand to depart in the summer. They didn't stand in the way of Conrad
Harder wanting to leave in search of more playing time in the summer or of
Alisson Santos' same wish departing for Napoli in the winter. Times have
definitely changed.
Oh - 2nd of May update. AVS beat Nacional to ensure FC Penafiel retain their record of the worst ever points tally in the top flight history of Portugal. Famalicão come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Benfica offering Sporting a potential lifeline and maybe we've not thrown automatic qualification for the Champions League away after all. Football - it's a fast moving sport, what can I say?
Back to 2018. I originally thought that Rui Patrício clearly isn't daft because whoever he's leaked the communications to, he's generally only giving one side of them, those from de Carvalho to him and not what he's said in reply which you have to say feels like a very smart move on his part. Turns out when he testified in court he'd cut off all communication with de Carvalho so in essence the president is firing off abuse and getting all the more wound up because he's not getting a reply. Been there and got that T-shirt with the kids mother. Nothing killed her more than my silence and allowed her to reveal her true character. But swiftly moving on... Patrício does handily add context in some instances. He received another communication from de Carvalho who said:
You are all a lucky bunch in the middle of a society every day poorer and poorer... What you all do it proves what is being spiritually poor.
So shitty to always feel this about all of you.
There's no patience.
It wouldn't have cost anything and I wouldn't need to feel like this.
Bruno de Carvalho
Patrício explains that de Carvalho's latest criticism stems from the team's failure to do heart shapes with their hands in the group photo.
“All this, simply because it had been decided that the players would make a heart with their hands during the group photo before the game, which didn't happen due to a mere distraction.”
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Patrício claims that following the 2-0 loss to Atlético, de Carvalho's public outbursts on social media and their return to Portugal, the team asked for a meeting with him only to be told any meeting would only occur on the Monday after the game to Paços de Ferreira. It was that rebuff that led them to ultimately take the action to take to social media themselves. Believing de Carvalho's comments about their performance to be a serious situation which warranted a meeting, that the words had humiliated them in turn, they met at the stadium for a meeting of their own. Here the decision was made for the players to all use their own social media accounts to post the same response on solidarity. But before they did de Carvalho was messaging Rui Patrício once more.
Good afternoon. After the game against Paços we will have the most serious talk you ever had in your life. I have 4 daughters and I have no patience for tantrums or false prophets. You will understand once and for all your place. Spoiled brats don't belong to Sporting unless it's [Sporting de] Covilhã.
(Lord only knows what branch number 8 of Sporting CP, the aforemenioned Sporting Clube da Covilhã has done to upset the club president and why he assumes them to be spoliled brats. Mind you who knew what went on in that mans head.)
And so the Sporting players decided that they would forge ahead with their co-ordinated posts in response to De Carvlaho across their social media platforms in direct response to the attacks from the club president. As you can probably guess, his Facebook response was less than pleasing in nature:
SPOILED BRATS, LET'S SOLVE THIS THEN...
At Sporting CP this is not a "Replública das Bananas".
All athletes that shared the post are immediately suspended, and will face the club's discipline.
I'm done with attitudes worthy of spoiled brats that don't respect anything or anybody.
These spoiled brats think they will go far, but this time my patience is over for everyone that thinks they are above the club and any criticism.
As we know Sporting flew to Madeira for the last game but de Carvalho didn't attend the game which strikes you as odd given this is a man who famously likes to park his backside not in the stands, but on the players bench. This is a man who is a stickler for maintaining club standards after all. Did he not cite Marco Silva's failure to wear his club suit against Vizela in the Taça da Liga as part of his just cause for firing him later that season? Surely the club president has matchday duties to perform?
Had he forewarning from the leaders of the Claques?
De Carvalho instead gives an interview within which he's quoted as saying:
"There's a super protection of players and they easily reach a place of total incoherence"
"I don't look for the love of the players, it's my duty to defend, on one side, the interests of the club, and on another, the emotions of the players, that want better contracts, more money, leave to other countries etc".
In reaction to a question about the players social media post he responded by saying:
"Action-Reaction. The sentiment of
treason and disloyalty is worse."
The following is possbily all taken from court documents relating to the former club captain Rui Patrício trying to rescind his contract through the courts. The original document is scanned and in Portuguese of which you'll heave learned by now, I cannot read and understand -
He gives a very full and frankly damning account of the events that occurred after the Marítimo loss and of the Alcochete attack itself which included the interactions with the club president.
"After the game, when we arrived at the airport there was a reaction of some fans (Fernando Mendes, ex-leader of Juve Leo and two more) that asked about Acuña in these terms: 'where's that son of a whore? We want to talk to him... At that time Rodrigo Battaglia stepped in and had asked them to calm down, saying that the game already ended and after asking why the fans had messaged criticising the team instead of providing them with messages of support. Here the discussion became heated with the members of the Ultras saying that they'll do what they want and the players just have to play."
Patrício explains how he and William as the club captains tried to calm the situation down, but there were people saying 'next week we will pay you a visit'. He claims that this was seen by Sporting directors. Noted though of course - not seen by the de Carvalho having thought that there's no reason to fly to Madeira to support the team.
Patrício then goes onto explain what happened when they arrived at Lisbon where there were fans waiting, yelling words of support for the president. At the stadium's garage, fans kept chasing them hurling various insults at the group especially aimed towards the captains as well as Acuña and Battaglia.
On Monday May the 14th the clubs hierachy met with the coaching staff to confirm their intention to fire them, this coming six days before the Taça de Portugal and the day before the attacks at Alcochete. De Carvalho however didn't think it necessary to inform the players of his intention to fire the mister Jorge Jesus and his support staff. At a meeting between De Carvalho and the players he commenced by asking whether they were OK and asked "Whatever happens are you ready to play on the weekend?" Here according to RP, de Carvlaho specifically asks the Argentine midfielder: "Acuña, why did you do that to the Ultras' leader? Especially to him, I have a serious problem, they were calling me all night, everyone from the group, saying they wanted to get you, that they wanted your address..." This one assumes would have been in reference to Fernando Mendes who received a five year sentence for his part in the Alcochete attacks. Acuña told the president that things could be resolved by talking, but the President responded with "I have a tremendous problem, I will try to resolve the situation," in an evasive tone.
Then he apparently asked again: "This week, whatever happens are you ready to play?" and added - "if there's any problem call me, to me or to Geraldes, if there's any problem I'm here to resolve it, I'm here always for you." This the same man who less than a month ago was busy suspending all the players for taking to social media to criticise him but now apparently wants to act like a protective father to the group.
Patrício admits that the group considered what was said and the calmness in which it was delivered very weird and completely out of context to how he'd been behaving in the preceeding weeks. They were also surprised to learn that training had been moved from Wednesday to Tuesday (that Tuesday of course being the day of the attacks.) De Carvalho apparently ended the discussion with the players by saying everything was calm and that "tomorrow you will practice and prepare for the Cup Final." He added that he would visit the academy although not committing to when exactly.
According to Patrício it was the mister Jorge Jesus who confirmed that de Carvalho had suspended him and his staff at their meeting. Jesus clearly paying no attention was still intent on doing his job and leading the side out at Jamor on the Sunday for the final. The goalkeeper notes that the Team Manager André Geraldes wasn't present at the Academy which he would normally have been during practices. We know from testimony provided to the courts that this day he was present at meetings at the stadium in which De Carvlaho was also present.
Practice was apparently scheduled for 1800 hours (Sorry news flash to me, it's only part 22, I don't think anyone will notice). Jorge Jesus was preparing the field for the pratice and by 1730 hours the players were headed to gym at the Academy complex. When this was finished they were returning to the dressing rooms to get ready for practice when the complex was invaded. Patrício described how the men who entered the room began assaulting
players, staff members and shouting abuse:
"YOU ARE SONS OF WHORES! SONS OF WHORES! FUCKERS! YOU ARE A PILE OF SHIT! WE WILL KILL YOU! YOU'RE ALL FUCKED! WE WILL BREAK YOUR TEETH! DON'T WIN ON SUNDAY AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU THEN!"
Patrício details how they were blocked from exiting, how flares were thrown, William was assaulted and told to take off his shirt because he wasn't worthy of wearing it. Petardos were then thrown (which I believe are firecrackers), players were assaulted with punches, kicks, belts and batons. Battaglia even had the water cooler thrown at him. Four people walked past Bas Dost without any issue but the fifth assaulted him with the belt.
Unsurprisingly a lot of conspiracy exists over what happened on the day.
The players clearly felt there were enough espisodes with fans having showcased aggressiveness and threats towards them that at a minimum the security should have been re-inforced. However they claim the opposite was actually the case and security conditions were lightened on the day.
We've mentioned that Geraldes wasn't present on the day. Presumably the insinuation here being that he was aware that something was going to happen.
They question why practice was moved to the day before it was scheduled and felt it wasn't a coincidence that those who invaded had done so at the exact time that the players were in the locker rooms which had they been on the fields outside would have ended in a very different outcome. They claim those who were there knew how to get to the dressing room without hesitation, this despite the fact very few people would have known they were there.
They question Fernando Mendes being in the car park with his face uncovered and claim he told Jorge Jesus when asked for help that he had said - it was supposed to be like this, that it was only intended to scare the players but things got out of control.
Jose
Diogo Salema the former director of Sporting's Academy at Alcochete stated whilst he was in charge of the complex there was always a simple rule: "When there was practice for the main team, the gate was
always closed. And there was always someone in the control room, with images of
various cameras that would cover the entire facility."
De Carvalho would provide interviews in regards to the attacks. What follows are quotes reported by the Portuguese media outlet O Jogo -
Origin of the invasion of the Academy: "It was a barbaric act, of terrorism. They tried and managed to paste that I said that the act was 'boring' and that 'crime is part of everyday life'. They manipulated words and took words out of context. They dishonored a man who is honorable. It was a heinous act, but it has its beginning. It is said, in a newspaper, that I would have endorsed aggressions. This endorsement would have been given on April 6. What we know at the moment is that in Madeira there were Sporting athletes who, unfortunately, due to impulsiveness, due to their temperament who could not withstand what is the frustration of insults and whistles. I confess that I understand them, because I've been through it. It's hard. But we have to know how to endure and accept. At the end of that day, in the game against Paços, he said that he accepted the whistles. At the airport in Madeira, words were exchanged with some gravity with Sporting fans. Unbeknownst to us, one of the former leaders of the Juve Leo claques was saying that he would talk to these athletes on Tuesday who called them names. The athletes are not to blame for what happened at the Academy. But that had an origin and it wasn't on April 6 or April 7 when I was a day away from knowing if my youngest daughter survived or not. This started in Madeira, where I didn't go, unfortunately, because I like to follow the sports. It was my conviction that, after the result against Benfica was not positive, we were going to Madeira to win. We didn't win."
Just think about what de Carvalho is really saying in the middle of that statement, he's basically insinuating that the players brought the attacks at Alchochete upon themselves by reacting to the fans. I personally find that staggering that anyone would suggest such a thing let alone the actual club president. He then claims not to have known the Fernando Mendes had told the players that he would see them at Alcochete. The only word you can think to say to that is BOLLOCKS. No maybe two - UTTER BOLLOCKS. So you had no feedback from the senior staff who were at the airport, or the players or from the coaching staff? You didn't see the images shown in the Portuguese press and on TV and think to ask the players and your staff what happened and what exactly was said? You've told Acuña to his face that Fernando Mendes had been ringing you off the hook wanting the players home address. Talk about looking to get yourself off the hook - none of it can be traced back to the fallout to your Facebook posts. Well that is handy then. You imagine virtually everyone else would feel different to you, but if you say so then it must be true.
About the car's entry into the Academy: "Car entered, left, police have images. Guaranteed that it was not the SAD administration that gave anyone entry. We were the club, in the last five years, that had a clean record in attitudes of violence. And we are stained by this act. There is no indignation with the booklet put together by Benfica that I am a direct or moral author or direct again. There has been talk of evidence, testimonies."
About the players: "I'm a father, the athletes are family, for me. I never let them harm my family. There is talk of possible terminations of players. A panic campaign was created, so that we would be swept away from Sporting. Our players are very professional. They have pride. Sometimes they don't give everything they can in games, but that happens to all of us. But asking for termination for an act that starts in a brawl and players didn't realise the impact or dimension, but that had... And it starts with the players. Rui Patrício has enough time at the club. He asked to leave the jersey at the Sporting museum. You can't, you shouldn't, address members and fans calling them names and saying they were paid."
So in case you're in any doubt at this stage after 22 parts in the Rise and Fall of Bruno de Carvalho - the one man who is definitely not responsible for his own demise is the man himself.
A quick search brings the following information;
Why Narcissists Shift Blame
To maintain a grandiose, flawless self-image, narcissists must avoid admitting any faults. Blame shifting acts as a defense mechanism to shield them from feelings of shame and unworthiness. By redirecting the blame, they achieve three primary goals:
Ego Protection: They preserve their perceived superiority.
Power and Control: They destabilise you and force you into a defensive position.
Avoiding Accountability: They ensure the focus remains on your reactions rather than their initial bad behavior.
Is anyone out there not yet convinced that Bruno de Carvalho is a narcissist?
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