There was a curious omission when the Campeonato de Portugal Série 4 fixtures were announced in late July. Imortal Desportivo Clube’s opponents on 16 August were listed as ‘club to be designated’.
Sociedade União 1º Dezembro's participation in the competition was being questioned due to financial issues. Sport Grupo Sacavenense entered the picture, increasing the heat on the Sintra club and making their own case to compete in the fourth division.
Let's take a look at this strange situation which adds another stain on Portuguese football.
29 May 2026
In late May reports emerge claiming that players from 1º de Dezembro had gone three months without receiving their salaries. The start of their financial issues apparently began in December.
The Sintra club had been relegated from Liga 3 on 2 May despite beating Caldas Sport Clube 2-1 on the final matchday.
5 July 2026
In early July and with 1º Dezembro’s place in the Campeonato allegedly at risk due to non-compliance with Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) requirements, Sacavenense step into the picture.
The Sacavém club, who finished 2nd in the AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão, express their desire to take 1º Dezembro’s licence and participate in the competition.
1º Dezembro players confirm to newspaper A Bola that wages had still been unpaid. The Players' Union tell the newspaper that the season had been "marked by successive wage defaults, ever since the investor who started the season abandoned the project and is now, as if nothing happened, at another club."
President José Francisco Gomes assures that wages had been paid: "We paid March and April in full. The squad has been on vacation for two months. We are talking with the Union and we will pay everything we have to pay by law, through a payment plan. This week we will meet again with the Union."
Gomes says the FPF was aware of the meeting with the Union and the subsequent submission of the licence to participate in the Campeonato:
"The Portuguese Football Federation was always aware of everything, they know about the meeting we had with the Union. We submitted the license, and on time. Everyone expected us not to submit it, but we did."
7 July 2026
Gomes remains confident that his club would be competing in the Portuguese fourth division, saying: "1º Dezembro meets the requirements to compete in the Portuguese Championship."
"We are in contact with the Players' Union and after the first meeting we have already begun to honor our commitments. We will have another meeting with the Union so that we can finish honoring these commitments as quickly as possible. I hope that this week we will have everything resolved."
8 July 2026
Sacavenense release a lengthy statement signed by president Alexandre Santos which made it clear his club see the situation a completely different way: "The recent statements by the directors of 1º Dezembro and the Union are, in our opinion, sufficient factual basis for the clear relegation of the Sintra club."
"Nothing in particular motivates us against the SAD of 1º de Dezembro, but rather against all those who do not comply with the regulations and do not fulfill their obligations to their workers."
"We have complete confidence in the Portuguese Football Federation, which certainly does not condone this type of practice and enforces the regulations, so we have full confidence that we will rightfully play in the Portuguese championship in the 2026-2027 season."
🇵🇹⚽️🏟️#154 Complexo Desportivo Elias Pereira. It's AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão action with João Palhinha's former club, Sport Grupo Sacavenense, hosting Grupo Desportivo União Ericeirense. 30yo striker Iaquinta scored 32 goals last season and already has 8 goals in 5 games this campaign pic.twitter.com/b1T0GRy9hp
— Matthew Marshall (@noobzcorp) October 12, 2025
25 July 2026
With both clubs continuing to wait for the FPF to make a decision, the draw for the first phase of the Campeonato de Portugal is made. Imortal Desportivo Clube’s opponents are listed as ‘club to be designated’.
12 August 2026
With days remaining before the start of the competition, the problem is yet to be resolved.
Santos continues to insist on the rights of the Sacavém club to compete in the Campeonato, telling newspaper O Jogo: "If there is justice, we will compete in the Portuguese Cup.”
“We have a clear opinion on what constitutes respect for sporting justice and total confidence that the FPF will honor the regulations. We don't want to moralize football, but we want football to be moralized."
"1º de Dezembro has breached its regulations, as it has not honored its commitments to its employees, namely the coach and players, and under the regulations must be relegated to the district championships."
“We have a game scheduled for Sunday and we are prepared to travel to Albufeira."
13 August 2026
Reports emerge claiming that Sacavenense will compete in the Campeonato.
14 August 2026
One day before the start of the competition, the FFP announce that 1º Dezembro would not be authorised to participate due to non-payment of wages and Sacavenense will take their place.
Sacavenense release a statement that confirms the news: "Sport Grupo Sacavenense was officially notified today at 12:00 PM by the Portuguese Football Federation that it will participate in the 2026-2027 season of the Campeonato de Portugal."
“We must extend our special thanks to everyone who contributed to this result through their sporting achievements and, on this special day, commend all those who fought for justice and defended sporting truth.”
The club advertise tickets and transport for the match.
1º Dezembro fight back with a statement of their own: "As previously communicated, the Club was prepared for any outcome, including the need to resort to appropriate legal means to defend its rights and legitimate interests."
"In this regard, this morning the Club filed the necessary precautionary measure with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Given the particular urgency of the situation, the immediate intervention of the President of the Central Administrative Court of the South was also requested, which was accepted."
"1º de Dezembro now informs that the injunction has been fully granted, ordering the FPF to take all necessary steps within 24 hours for the immediate admission and integration of the club into the 2026/2027 Campeonato de Portugal season."
"Given the particular urgency of the situation, the immediate intervention of the President of the Central Administrative Court of the South was also requested, which was accepted."
"The precautionary measure was fully granted, and it was determined that the Portuguese Football Federation, within 24 (twenty-four) hours, must take all necessary actions for the immediate admission and integration of the club into the Campeonato de Portugal, 2026/2027 sports season."
15 August 2026
One day before Imortal were set to start their season in Albufeira, the FPF reverse their decision, reinstating 1º Dezembro and sending Sacavenense back to the AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão.
The Federation led by Pedro Proença release a statement: “The Portuguese Football Federation informs that, in strict compliance with a court decision and based on the fundamental principle of the stability of competitions, it will proceed, as determined on Friday by the Central Administrative Court of the South (TCAS), with the integration of Sociedade Filarmónica União 1º de Dezembro into the Campeonato de Portugal.”
“Even though it disagrees with the decision now taken by the TCAS, the FPF accepts it, on the day the competition must begin without uncertainty. However, it cannot fail to express its indignation at the way this decision fails to protect the integrity of the competition or sporting truth, inviting everyone to a profound reflection on the current model of Sports Justice which, once again, proves incapable of meeting the demands and expectations of Portuguese Football.”
16 August 2026
Sacavenense release a statement: "Yesterday, Sport Grupo Sacavenense experienced one of the saddest days in its long and respected history.
National sport also experienced one of the darkest pages in its recent history. In light of what happened, we feel there is still much to say, clarify, and do, always in defense of sporting truth and in honour of the values that should govern football.
Today, we are left with a profound sense of emptiness in the face of the lack of ethics, respect, dignity, and honour that we feel has been called into question. This is a feeling that is certainly shared by all members, fans, and supporters of Sacavenense.
But it is also a feeling extended to many sports leaders who, with honour, seriousness, and honesty, do not identify with this football nor with practices that could jeopardise the truth, justice, and dignity of national sport.
Similarly, many serious and honest football lovers must have felt, once again yesterday, outrage and sadness at what we consider a true horror story for sporting justice in Portugal.
Today, more than words, it is important to maintain serenity, unity, and determination. Sport Grupo Sacavenense will not forget its values, its history, and its identity.
Time may be long, but the truth will prevail and justice will be done. For Sacavenense. For sporting truth. For honest and honorable football."
Imortal finally get their season underway with some certainty, the AF Algarve champions to start their campaign against 1º de Dezembro.
While this entire saga has been a disaster from start to finish, it was not unexpected for anyone familiar with similar situations in Portuguese football.
It’s an embarrassing episode for Sacavenense, Proença, the FPF and leaves some questions to be answered:
- What information did Sacavenense possess that gave them such confidence?
- What communication did Sacavenense have with the FPF?
- Why did the FPF take so long to make a decision that was ultimately overruled by the Central Administrative Court?
One thing is for sure, it will be a joy to be able to watch 1º de Dezembro at their traditional home in Sintra, the Campo Conde de Sucena.
For three years, due to FPF regulations that prevent Liga 3 clubs from competing on artificial turf, 1º de Dezembro have been playing home games at several different stadiums, near and far from their home patch. These include the Estádio Municipal de Ponte de Sor (158km), Estádio do Bonfim (Setúbal, 67km) and, more recently, Estádio do Real SC (Queluz, 12km).
The world of Portuguese football eagerly awaits the next meeting between 1º Dezembro and Sacavenense.
