Bruno de Carvalho speaks with So Foot

Speaking in an interview with the French sports publication ‘So Foot’, Bruno de Carvalho once again took aim at partnerships between clubs and external investment, making a damning evaluation of the club's loses to funds.

"When Sporting CP worked with funds, we lost more than 100 million euros. When we stopped doing business with them, we began making a profit. We had to take the malignant cells out of Sporting CP", affirmed the Alvalade president, going on to speak about the involvement of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a process against funds: "Why do I have to face Doyen in the Court of Arbitration for Sport? What do they know about football contracts?"

To finish, Bruno de Carvalho reaffirmed his determination to revolutionise Portuguese football: "I want to see football as a sport that reflects the values of our society. How can we just sit back and relax when people think we are thieves and corrupt people? I have two children and honestly I don't want them to see their father like that."

Agreement with 1.º de Agosto for Gelson and Ary Papel

Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Clube Desportivo 1º de Agosto for the transfer of Jacinto Muondo Dala (Gelson) and Manuel David Afonso (Ary Papel), within the framework of the partnership between the two clubs. The two have agreed contracts valid from the 1st of January 2017 to the 30th of June 2019, with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€ and an optional extension until 2022.

Sporting SAD wishes Gelson and Ary Papel the best of professional and personal success.

Jorge Jesus remembers his friendship with Chapecoense coach Caio Júnior

A dream which ended in tragedy. The Brazil team Chapecoense were on their way to Colombia to face Atlético Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana final.

The Chapecoense coach Caio Júnior (who played in Portugal for Vitória de Guimarães, Estrela da Amadora and Belenenses) was a personal friend of Jorge Jesus.

"It is a tragedy for the families and everyone involved in sports. Caio Júnior took part in a training camp in Portugal with me and I was in Brazil with him a few times", said Jesus in a short interview with Sporting TV this week, adding: "It is a really complicated time. I have been talking with my friends in Coritiba. What we can all do right now is pray for the team and their families."

Brazilian team was travelling to Colombia for the Copa Sudamericana final

A airplane carrying the Brazilian football team Chapecoense was involved in an accident on Monday night in Cerro Gordo. The team from the city of Santa Catarina, where former Alvalade keeper Marcelo Boeck now plays but was not travelling with the squad, were on the way to Medellin for the the Copa Sudamericana final against Atlético Nacional.

The Brazilian club have made the following announcement: "In light of contrasting news which is being announced from various sources in relation to an accident with the airplane transporting the Chapecoense team, Associação Chapecoense de Futebol, through its vice-president, Ivan Tozzo, will await an official statement from the Colombian authorities. May God be with our athletes, directors, journalists and everyone travelling with the delegations."

Sporting CP is with Chapecoense and all of the families of those travelling on the flight at the extremely difficult time.

Alvalade and Dortmund mascots backing fair-play

Jubas, the Sporting Clube de Portugal mascot, and Emma, his Borussia Dortmund equivalent, haven taken it on themselves to back the spirit of fair-play.

On the 1st of November Sporting CP travelled to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund and it was the perfect occasion for the two mascots to meet. Jubas of course made the most of the chance to visit the city, guided by Emma.

Emma thanked Jubas for his visit by giving him an official Borussia Dormund shirt.

Domingos Duarte, Tobias, Geraldes, Podence, Mané and Iuri Medeiros also feature

Rúben Semedo features in Rui Jorge's under-21 Portugal squad for the coming friendlies with the Czech Republic (11th of November at 18h15) and the Netherlands (15th of November at 18h30).

Also included in the squad are fellow Sporting players Domingos Duarte, Tobias Figueiredo, Francisco Geraldes, Daniel Podence, Carlos Mané and Iuri Medeiros.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Joel Pereira (Belenenses), Bruno Varela (Vitória) and Rui Silva (Nacional);

Defenders: Domingos Duarte (Belenenses), Edgar Ié (Villarreal), Fernando Fonseca (FC Porto), Rebocho (Moreirense), Rúben Semedo (Sporting CP) and Tobias Figueiredo (Nacional);

Midfielders: André Horta (Benfica), Bruno Fernandes (Sampdória), Francisco Geraldes (Moreirense), João Carvalho (Benfica) and Rúben Neves (FC Porto);

Forwards: Bruma (Galatasaray), Daniel Podence (Moreirense), Diogo Jota (FC Porto), Gonçalo Guedes (Benfica), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Carlos Mané (Estugarda), Iuri Medeiros (Boavista) Kevin Rodrigues (Real Sociedad) and Simão Azevedo (Braga).

Rui Patrício, Adrien, William and Gelson all given the green light for Lithuania

National team coach Fernando Santos released his squad list for the coming World Cup 2018 qualifier against Lithuania this week.

A total of four Sporting players feature in the squad of 24 Rui Patrício, Adrien, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Marafona (Sp. Braga) and Rui Patrício (Sporting CP);

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Antunes (Dynamo Kiev), João Cancelo (Valencia), José Fonte (Southampton), Luís Neto (Zenit), Nélson Semedo (Benfica) and Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund);

Midfielders: André Gomes (Barcelona), Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), João Mário (Inter de Milão), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) and William Carvalho (Sporting CP)

Forwards: André Silva (FC Porto), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Pizzi (Benfica), Nani (Valencia) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).

Agreement for contract extension with Pedro Marques

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Pedro Marques for the renewal of the athlete's contract, now valid until 2023 and with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Pedro Marques the best of professional and personal success.

Crowd turns out at team hotel ahead of encounter with Nacional

Dozens of Sporting fans made their way to Hotel Meliá in Madeira this afternoon, eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. Goalkeeper Azbe Jug was on hand to oblige, posing for photos and signing shirts.

Sporting will take on Nacional in Estádio da Choupana, at 21h00.

Estádio José Alvalade on the verge of yet another mega crowd

Sporting is set to fill Alvalade with over 40,000 fans for the 12th consecutive official match this weekend, with the hosting of Tondela. The average crowd over the last 11 matches was 44,868 which is 90% of full capacity.

2015/2016 SEASON

SL Benfica | 49,699 spectators

Arouca | 46,014 spectators

Marítimo | 44,230 spectators

União da Madeira | 44,719 spectators

Vitória de Setúbal | 43,827 spectators

2016/2017 SEASON

Marítimo | 42,577 spectators

FC Porto | 49,399 spectators

Moreirense | 44,393 spectators

Estoril Praia | 41,994 spectators

Legia Varsóvia | 40,094 spectators

Borussia Dortmund | 46,609 spectators

The average crowd for Liga NOS encounter this season has been 44,591 so far, making Alvalade the most packed stadium in Portugal:

SPORTING CP | average crowd of 89.09% of capacity

SL BENFICA | average crowd of 86.20% of capacity

FC PORTO | average crowd of 71.64% of capacity