GD Louro Player Detained After Brawl Injures Rival

A friendly between FC Roriz and GD Louro descended into a brawl on Sunday, ending with one player unconscious on the pitch and another detained by the GNR.

The victim, a 22-year-old Roriz player, was kicked in the head and left unconscious on the ground for around 10 minutes, according to "O Minho". He was taken to Hospital de Braga, where he was found to have broken teeth and bruising to his face and head.

His attacker, a 30-year-old GD Louro player, was held at the scene until the GNR arrived. The match had no policing, being only a training fixture. He was detained on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and has since been summoned to appear in court.

GD Louro, who play in the AF Braga district, issued a statement disputing the framing of the incident. The club said it does not condone violence of any kind, physical, verbal, xenophobic or racist, but argued the full sequence of events needed to be set out. By its account, Louro players were subjected to xenophobic and racist abuse throughout the game. With Roriz leading 6-0 three minutes from time, Louro asked the referee to end the match early; the referee refused. From the resulting free-kick in the Louro area, a Roriz player punched a Louro player in the back, the club said, and the Louro player reacted. Players from both sides then tried to intervene before the fight escalated.

The player responsible for the kick has suspended his own footballing activity and has already been heard in court, the club confirmed.