Angry mob leaves player bloodied after attack on Portuguese soccer team
Sporting Lisbon star Bas Dost injured after masked intruders invade training centre
A group of angry fans forced their way into Sporting Lisbon's training centre in Portugal on Tuesday and assaulted its players and staff, the club said.
Public television RTP reported that around 50 intruders, who had covered their faces to not be identified, interrupted practice and assaulted a number players and staff.
RTP showed an image of bloody wounds to the head of Sporting's Dutch striker Bas Dost and of a changing room that had been trashed.
Sporting confirmed the incident in a statement condemning what it calls "acts of vandalism and the attacks on (our) athletes, coaches and professional staff."
Various sporting "fans" broke into Alcochete, Sporting's training complex, and are alleged to have assaulted their star man, Bas Dost. No matter how disgruntled fans are, they should NEVER blame/assault the players. Pathetic behaviour. <a href="https://t.co/cVrg91LXA1">pic.twitter.com/cVrg91LXA1</a>
—@MarinovpeixotoThe club did not immediately respond to calls and emails from The Associated Press.
The Portuguese league also condemned in a statement "the violent acts the players and coaching staff of Sporting Lisbon were subject to today."
"The perpetrators of these incidents are not fans of football, they are criminals," the league said.
Sporting's training centre is in Alcochete, about 20 kilometres south of Lisbon.
Sporting missed out on a Champions League berth for next season after a loss in the last round of the Portuguese league cost it a second-place finish last weekend.
It is preparing to play the Portuguese Cup final against Aves on Sunday.