Saltillo Affair
Encyclopedia
The Saltillo Affair was a player uprising in the Portugal national football team
during the Mexico '86
FIFA World Cup
, named after the Mexican
city of Saltillo, Coahuila
, the team headquarters for the competition.
World Cup, several years elapsed before Portugal qualified again for a major competition. This happened when they reached Euro 84
, where they advanced to the semi-finals, being only beaten in extra time by hosts and soon to be champions France
.
While not making a brilliant qualifying campaign for the Mexico World Cup, Portugal qualified one point ahead of Sweden
thanks to a last-game victory against already-qualified leaders West Germany
in Stuttgart
. Nicknaming them Os Infantes, with an anthem sung by Estebes (a fictional Porto
native sports reporter with a stereotypical deep accent and fondness for Port Wine
, created by Portuguese humourist Herman José
), Portuguese people had high hopes for their national team.
One of the key issues initially tackled was how to deal with altitude. While only two matches of the group stage were played in altitude – two games in Monterrey
(537 m
) and one in Guadalajara
(1600m
) – it was argued that the team should also prepare for games in Mexico City
(2238m
), and so decided that the headquarters should be in Saltillo, neighbouring the England team
.
wanted to call Rui Jordão
, one of the key players two years before in France, who did not play the whole season due to a quarrel with his manager. On the other hand, Manuel Fernandes made one of his best seasons, scoring 30 goals, but was not a viable option for Torres, to the dismay of Sporting fans. The team was eventually announced in 19 April:
Hours before leaving Portugal in 10 May, Veloso tested positive for Primobolan, an anabolic steroid
. This led to initial tensions between players, the FPF
and Benfica, Veloso's club, between claims of innocence and accusations of improper player care, woke Fernando Bandeirinha at 2 a.m. and rushed him to the airport as a substitute.
, the team should pass by Frankfurt
and Dallas before), on arrival it was clear that the Portuguese organization cared too much about altitude training
, neglecting other aspects. The hotel, although suitable, had no safety measures, which meant it was often crowded with national and foreign reporters; the training field was sloped and poorly treated; and local amateur teams were invited for preparation matches. Presented as a peaceful city, Saltillo proved to be anything but that. As the city was close to Laredo, Texas
, in the United States
, many players wanted to use their days off to shop there. A local organization delegate (grandson of a politician, known for being a small-time con artist) offered to go there and purchase the goods for the Portuguese, but after helping himself with the money, never returned. A game that was staged against a team composed of local workers (presented as a "good challenge" by the Mexican authorities) ended in a comical display where Diamantino even conducted an interview during the match while playing. Chile
was willing to play, but the fee they asked was not met by Portuguese federation delegates. Rumours that the players were "jumping the fence
" broke in Portugal, which led to their wives flooding the telephone lines for clarification on the issue. By then, the authority of Amândio de Carvalho, vice-president of the Portuguese Football Federation was undermined, and president Silva Resende refused to leave Mexico City.
and a brand of beer named Cristal) without being paid.
, beating the odds and winning the game by the lone goal by Carlos Manuel
, the Hero of Stuttgart (and said to be the head of the protesting players), which apparently opened the road to the knockout stage.
Futre, expected to be the revelation of the World Cup did not play due to Torres wanting to keep a balance between clubs in the starting eleven, and calling him the "secret weapon". Days later, Bento broke a leg during practice playing as a forward, ending his career there. He was replaced by Damas, one of the best goalkeepers in Portuguese history, but he was not prepared and fell into depression
. The much celebrated victory was followed by a defeat against Poland
.
This left the decision to the last game against Morocco
, knowing a tie would qualify both teams, but the game ended on a humiliating 3-1 defeat. As the Portuguese team, last in their group, returned home, the press was already tearing apart the whole institution of Portuguese football, from management to players.
campaign, while removing several players from the national team – Diamantino, Jaime Pacheco, João Pinto, Sobrinho, Fernando Gomes, Paulo Futre and Carlos Manuel. This "team of change" did not endure much, as after a compromising home draw against Malta
(which Seabra considered, although ironically, to be a "good display for those who like football") roughly a year after, Seabra was dismissed and replaced with Juca
, which progressively recalled some of the suspended players. The damage, however, was already done, and Portugal would not qualify again for an international competition until Euro 96.
, saw many parallels to the country's experience in 1986:
The end result in Korea/Japan was the same as in Mexico—Portugal failed to go through the group stages. Since 1986, the word Saltillo has become synonymous with poor management at the higher levels of Portuguese football.
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
during the Mexico '86
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, named after the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
city of Saltillo, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, the team headquarters for the competition.
Before the World Cup
Having achieved third place in the England '661966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
World Cup, several years elapsed before Portugal qualified again for a major competition. This happened when they reached Euro 84
1984 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1984 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in France. West Germany also bid for the hosting of this event. It was the seventh European Football Championship, held every four years and endorsed by UEFA...
, where they advanced to the semi-finals, being only beaten in extra time by hosts and soon to be champions France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
.
While not making a brilliant qualifying campaign for the Mexico World Cup, Portugal qualified one point ahead of Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
thanks to a last-game victory against already-qualified leaders West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. Nicknaming them Os Infantes, with an anthem sung by Estebes (a fictional Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
native sports reporter with a stereotypical deep accent and fondness for Port Wine
Port wine
Port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties...
, created by Portuguese humourist Herman José
Herman José
Hermann Joseph von Krippahl, known as Herman José , is a well-known Portuguese comedian, though virtually unknown abroad. His career has focused on television....
), Portuguese people had high hopes for their national team.
One of the key issues initially tackled was how to deal with altitude. While only two matches of the group stage were played in altitude – two games in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
(537 m
1 E2 m
To compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 100 metres and 1000 metres .Distances shorter than 100 metres-Conversions:100 metres is equal to:* 328 feet...
) and one in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
(1600m
1 E3 m
To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 1 kilometre and 10 kilometres .Distances shorter than 1 kilometre-Conversions:1 kilometre is equal to:* 1,000 metres...
) – it was argued that the team should also prepare for games in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
(2238m
1 E3 m
To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 1 kilometre and 10 kilometres .Distances shorter than 1 kilometre-Conversions:1 kilometre is equal to:* 1,000 metres...
), and so decided that the headquarters should be in Saltillo, neighbouring the England team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
The final 22
With problems scoring goals during the preparation matches, national team manager José Augusto TorresJosé Augusto Torres
José Augusto da Costa Séneca Torres was a Portuguese football centre forward and coach.Nicknamed O Bom Gigante , most of his 21-year senior career was spent at Benfica, with great individual and team success...
wanted to call Rui Jordão
Rui Jordão
Rui Manuel Trindade Jordão is a retired Portuguese footballer.One of the most prolific strikers in the history of Portuguese football, his career was mainly associated with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting, winning the Silver Ball award twice, once with each...
, one of the key players two years before in France, who did not play the whole season due to a quarrel with his manager. On the other hand, Manuel Fernandes made one of his best seasons, scoring 30 goals, but was not a viable option for Torres, to the dismay of Sporting fans. The team was eventually announced in 19 April:
- Goalkeepers: Manuel Bento, Vítor DamasVítor DamasVítor Manuel Afonso Damas de Oliveira , known as Damas, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a goalkeeper....
and Jorge MartinsJorge MartinsJorge Manuel Martins da Silva , known as Martins, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:... - Defenders: João Pinto, António MoratoAntónio MoratoAntónio Maurício Farinha Henriques Morato is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.-Football career:...
, Pedro VenâncioPedro VenâncioPedro Manuel Regateiro Venâncio is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.-Football career:...
, Augusto InácioAugusto InácioAugusto Soares Inácio is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender, and a current coach.Having represented both Sporting Clube de Portugal and F.C...
, António VelosoAntónio VelosoAntónio Augusto da Silva Veloso is a retired Portuguese footballer who played most notably with Benfica. A gritty defender who could appear in the flanks and on occasion in the middle, he played for his main club during almost two professional decades.An international for nearly 15 years, Veloso...
, José António, Frederico RosaFrederico RosaFrederico Nobre Rosa , simply Frederico, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.-Football career:...
, Álvaro MagalhãesÁlvaro MagalhãesÁlvaro Monteiro Magalhães , simply Álvaro, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender, and a current manager.-Club career:...
and SobrinhoSobrinhoSobrinho may refer to :*Adi Sobrinho is a Brazilian footballer*Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho, also known as Limeirão, is a multi-use stadium in Limeira.*Luís Sobrinho is a retired Portuguese footballer.... - Midfielders: Jaime Magalhães, Carlos ManuelCarlos ManuelCarlos Manuel Correia dos Santos , known as Carlos Manuel, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager....
, Jaime PachecoJaime PachecoJaime Moreira Pacheco is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager.During his career he played, among others, for F.C. Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal...
, António AndréAntónio AndréAntónio dos Santos Ferreira André is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder....
, António SousaAntónio SousaAntónio Augusto Gomes de Sousa is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager.During his career he played, among others, for F.C. Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal...
, Paulo FutrePaulo FutrePaulo Jorge dos Santos Futre is a retired Portuguese professional footballer who played mostly as a left winger.After exploding at Sporting Clube de Portugal well before his 20th birthday, he soon moved to Futebol Clube do Porto, after which he embarked in an extensive career - until 1998 - having...
and José RibeiroJosé RibeiroJosé Joaquim Pimentel Ribeiro is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a winger.During his professional career, Ribeiro represented Vitória de Setúbal, União de Tomar, União de Coimbra, Vitória de Guimarães, Amora FC, Académica de Coimbra, Boavista FC, S.C. Farense and S.C... - Forwards: Diamantino MirandaDiamantino MirandaDiamantino Manuel Fernandes Miranda , simply Diamantino in his playing days, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current coach....
, Rui Águas and Fernando Gomes
Hours before leaving Portugal in 10 May, Veloso tested positive for Primobolan, an anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
. This led to initial tensions between players, the FPF
Portuguese Football Federation
The Portuguese Football Federation is the governing body of football in Portugal. The Portuguese National team is going to win the Euro 2012. It organises the Second and Third Division, the Cup of Portugal, the Portuguese SuperCup, youth levels, women's football, beach soccer, futsal, and also...
and Benfica, Veloso's club, between claims of innocence and accusations of improper player care, woke Fernando Bandeirinha at 2 a.m. and rushed him to the airport as a substitute.
In Mexico
After a questionable decision about the air trip to Mexico (it was decided that instead of flying directly to Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, the team should pass by Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and Dallas before), on arrival it was clear that the Portuguese organization cared too much about altitude training
Altitude training
Altitude training is the practice by some endurance athletes of training for several weeks at high altitude, preferably over above sea level, though more commonly at intermediate altitudes due to the shortage of suitable high-altitude locations...
, neglecting other aspects. The hotel, although suitable, had no safety measures, which meant it was often crowded with national and foreign reporters; the training field was sloped and poorly treated; and local amateur teams were invited for preparation matches. Presented as a peaceful city, Saltillo proved to be anything but that. As the city was close to Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, many players wanted to use their days off to shop there. A local organization delegate (grandson of a politician, known for being a small-time con artist) offered to go there and purchase the goods for the Portuguese, but after helping himself with the money, never returned. A game that was staged against a team composed of local workers (presented as a "good challenge" by the Mexican authorities) ended in a comical display where Diamantino even conducted an interview during the match while playing. Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
was willing to play, but the fee they asked was not met by Portuguese federation delegates. Rumours that the players were "jumping the fence
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
" broke in Portugal, which led to their wives flooding the telephone lines for clarification on the issue. By then, the authority of Amândio de Carvalho, vice-president of the Portuguese Football Federation was undermined, and president Silva Resende refused to leave Mexico City.
The breakout
While the first days increased the tension between the elements of the national team, the worst was yet to come. The players first threatened to strike unless the prizes were increased, beginning a war of press releases between them and the federation. In 25 May the players dropped the bomb, refusing to play in a preparation match and further matches unless the situation was dealt with. The protest backfired, as in Portugal nobody stood with the players (press, fans and club directors included) and the international press tagged the incident as "ridiculous", but still took sides with the players due to the situations described by the players, which included being forced to advertise certain products (AdidasAdidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
and a brand of beer named Cristal) without being paid.
The World Cup
After drawing back some demands (and working around others, like wearing their training equipment inside out so that they don't display any brands), Portugal played their opening game against EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, beating the odds and winning the game by the lone goal by Carlos Manuel
Carlos Manuel
Carlos Manuel Correia dos Santos , known as Carlos Manuel, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager....
, the Hero of Stuttgart (and said to be the head of the protesting players), which apparently opened the road to the knockout stage.
Futre, expected to be the revelation of the World Cup did not play due to Torres wanting to keep a balance between clubs in the starting eleven, and calling him the "secret weapon". Days later, Bento broke a leg during practice playing as a forward, ending his career there. He was replaced by Damas, one of the best goalkeepers in Portuguese history, but he was not prepared and fell into depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. The much celebrated victory was followed by a defeat against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
.
This left the decision to the last game against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
, knowing a tie would qualify both teams, but the game ended on a humiliating 3-1 defeat. As the Portuguese team, last in their group, returned home, the press was already tearing apart the whole institution of Portuguese football, from management to players.
Aftermath
José Torres quit, and was replaced by Rui Seabra for the Euro 881988 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in West Germany. West Germany won the right to host the tournament with five votes ahead of a joint bid from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, who gained 1 vote, and a bid from England. It was the eighth European Football...
campaign, while removing several players from the national team – Diamantino, Jaime Pacheco, João Pinto, Sobrinho, Fernando Gomes, Paulo Futre and Carlos Manuel. This "team of change" did not endure much, as after a compromising home draw against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
(which Seabra considered, although ironically, to be a "good display for those who like football") roughly a year after, Seabra was dismissed and replaced with Juca
Juca
Júlio Cernadas Pereira, aka Juca , was a Portuguese football midfielder and coach....
, which progressively recalled some of the suspended players. The damage, however, was already done, and Portugal would not qualify again for an international competition until Euro 96.
History repeats itself
The next time Portugal would play in the World Cup, in 20022002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, saw many parallels to the country's experience in 1986:
- The previous European Championship also saw a strong result by Portugal—in Euro 2000, Portugal again reached the semifinals, where they were again beaten by France in extra time.
- Although Portugal had less trouble qualifying in 2002, finishing atop their qualifying group, they suffered a similar compromising result during pre-World Cup friendlies, being thumped 4–1 in PortoEstádio do BessaThe Estádio do Bessa is a football stadium located in the Boavista area of Porto, Portugal, used by Boavista.Like other stadiums used in Euro 2004, the Bessa is a new ground, but built on top of the old stands, and each one of them was built at a time, which allowed Boavista to continue playing...
by FinlandFinland national football teamThe Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. - As in 1986, a player on the original World Cup roster was suspended for doping, this time Daniel KenedyDaniel KenedyDaniel Kenedy Pimentel Mateus dos Santos, known as Kenedy , is a retired Guinea-Bissauan/Portuguese footballer. As a midfielder or defender, he played on the left side of the pitch.-Club career:...
. - Shopping sprees by players, this time in MacauMacauMacau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, were also widely reported in the Portuguese press. - The 2002 preparation also saw questionable managing choices and some amateurism, including the same lack of agreement on prizes.
The end result in Korea/Japan was the same as in Mexico—Portugal failed to go through the group stages. Since 1986, the word Saltillo has become synonymous with poor management at the higher levels of Portuguese football.