The controversy in national judo continues. After Jorge Fernandez, president of the Portuguese Judo Federation, downplayed the open letter signed by seven athletes by saying that the vast majority of Benfica were there and therefore not represented, the Reds responded.
Ana Oliveira, Benfica’s Olympic project coordinator, has been heavily criticized on the club’s official television.
“The president of the federation says the worst, he says it only makes him laugh. We both laugh a lot, the athletes laugh a lot, about two months before the World Cup they want to prepare with dignity and calm because they are used to winning and nobody wins if they don’t. The President of the Olympic Committee is certainly not laughing, and neither is the Secretary of State. Benfica have already awarded 25 medals to Portugal. Here we are faced with a phenomenon that needs to be thought about carefully. I want to say that Benfica are to blame. How about the day before this letter? You ask the club’s project coordinator for help and the next day it’s our fault? Advantage of the national sport in tough competition. He also underestimates other clubs, other athletes,” he shot.
