Porto supporters blocked at Viseu stadium entrance

Viseu, Portugal – Supporters of FC Porto were blocked at the entrance of Estádio do Fontelo this Saturday, ahead of the 18h00 kick-off against Académico de Viseu. The home club had reserved only 5% of the stadium's capacity for the visiting fans, but many Porto supporters arrived without valid tickets, having purchased them through parallel resale platforms.

The situation created tension outside the ground, as dozens of blue-and-white fans were unable to enter the stadium. According to A Bola, the club had warned that tickets bought from unofficial sources would not be accepted, but fans still attempted to gain access.

Security personnel were reinforced at the gates to manage the crowd and check tickets. Some supporters expressed frustration, stating they had paid high prices for tickets that turned out to be invalid.

Académico de Viseu, playing in the Portuguese second division, had allocated a limited number of tickets to Porto, as is customary for away fans. However, the demand far exceeded the supply, leading to a black market for tickets.

This is not the first time such incidents have occurred at Portuguese stadiums, but the club's strict policy against parallel sales has been highlighted. Porto, currently leading the league, were expected to bring a large following, but the 5% cap limited their presence.

The match itself proceeded as scheduled, with Porto looking to extend their winning streak. The team, coached by Francesco Farioli, had been in good form, and Farioli had stated he would put his phone on airplane mode until the end of the game to avoid transfer market distractions.

Porto's next fixture is set for next weekend, where they will face a top-flight rival. The club has yet to comment on the ticketing issues, but the incident may prompt a review of away ticket allocations.

The situation at Fontelo highlights the ongoing challenges of ticket distribution in Portuguese football, with clubs often limiting away allocations to prevent crowd trouble. For now, Porto fans who missed the match will have to wait for the next opportunity to support their team live.