Petro de Luanda has repudiated the decision by the Disciplinary Board of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) to suspend the Angolan club from all sporting activity for two years and has promised to appeal.
In a statement, the management of the club, whose main soccer team is coached by Portuguese Alexandre Santos, considers that there are no facts or legal grounds for the announced sanction.
The Angolan club, which was suspended for allegedly “failing to comply with its duty to collaborate with the FAF, in the context of the disciplinary proceedings initiated,” as the body’s statement reads, guarantees that at no time did it refuse to collaborate with the Disciplinary Board.
“In fact, everything has been done to meet its requests, proof of which are the communications exchanged between the two institutions, which attest to their willingness to cooperate,” it reads.
Petro de Luanda appealed to its supporters, fans and the Angolan soccer family to remain calm and serene and promised to appeal to the Angolan Football Federation.
At issue is an audio posted on social media in which Petro player Márcio Luvambo confirms that the club he represents paid three million kwanzas to Académica do Lobito to beat the 1st of August in last season’s Angolan Cup match.
Petro de Luanda have won the Angolan soccer championship 17 times, a Girabola record, including the last two editions, both under Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos.