Presentation of the country's main security and sports institutions and bodies

• Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, through the Secretary of State of Youth and Sport Cultura, Juventude e Desporto - XXV Governo Constitucional
• Ministry of the Interior and / or Justice: Administração Interna - XXV Governo Constitucional and Justiça - XXV Governo Constitucional
• National committee on sport safety and security: There is no National Committee, particularly in this area. However, there is a multi-agency working group for the safety and security of sports events, under the umbrella of the National Sports Council, where some tasks are performed: Government’s Law Decree nº 315/2007
• Others organisation or task force on S4 policies: National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence. The National Authority has developed its action to promote and share best practices, aiming to raise the overall standards of the three pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention: safety, security and service.

National safety bodies:

• Independent sports safety bodies: There isn’t a specific independent sports safety body in Portugal
• National public coordination safety bodies: National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related  Violence (APCVD) - Its mission is to supervise the legal framework for preventing and combating violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance at sporting events, to make it possible for such events to be held with safety and security, in accordance with the ethical principles inherent to sports.

Responsibilities:

• Administrative sanctioning of misdemeanours related to the legal framework;
• Grading the risk level of sports events;
• Designation of improvement measures for sports venues;
• Development of campaigns and activities related to the implementation of high ethical principles and values at sports events;
• Promotion of preventative socio-educational measures;
• Registration of internal safety regulations of sports venues;
• Other responsibilities.

• National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) - - Its mission is to plan, coordinate and execute emergency and civil protection policies, to prevent and respond to serious accidents and catastrophes, to protect and help populations, to coordinate civil protection agents, and to ensure the planning and coordination of national needs in the area of civil emergency planning.

Main sports in the country (by number of members)

• Football
• Swimming
• Handball
• Volleyball
• Basketball

National Olympic Committee

• Portuguese Olympic Committee
• Paralympic Committee of Portugal

Main sports federations and leagues

• Portuguese Football Federation
• Portuguese Swimming Federation
• Portuguese Handball Federation
• Portuguese Volleyball Federation
• Portuguese Basketball Federation
• Portuguese Professional Football League

National football authorities

• Portuguese Football Federation
• Portuguese Professional Football League

Relevant good practices in the S4 domain

• League 3 - Pure Football Ranking - The League 3 is a competition that constitutes the third tier of Men's Senior Football, with a differentiated concept and committed to pursuing a series of challenging objectives. The Pure Football Ranking will distinguish the League 3 clubs that throughout the sports season promote and comply with the values of the competition, a positive attitude and behaviour between all sports agents and spectators involved in the competition, reiterating values such as respect, complicity, solidarity and integration. At the end of each match, each team is given a classification which results from the sum of the points awarded in each of the criteria: respect for opponents, referees, behaviour of team officials and fans. The Pure Football Ranking is fully independent from the regular League 3 competition ranking, in which they may add or lose points, because of their conducts and initiatives.
• PNED - The National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED) represents a government initiative and is hosted by the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, I. P.. It is a set of structured and planned initiatives, which aim to disseminate and promote the living of ethical values inherent in the practice of sports such as truth, respect, responsibility, friendship, cooperation, tolerance and inclusion, among many others.
• National Observatory of Violence against Athletes (ObNVA) - platform for informal and anonymous online reporting of situations of violence against athletes experienced directly or witnessed. APCVD is a partner in the initiative of the University Institute of Maia and the “i Plan Association”, promoting the project and supporting its development, reporting situations that may be relevant for analysis by the Observatory
• Amnesty International - "I Play for Human Rights" aims to reflect, with the support and joint effort of all entities in the sports sector and other partners, on the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• S4Congress|Safety, Security and Service at Sports Events is a privileged space for meeting, reflection and sharing of national and international best practices in sporting events. This event reflects the commitment of the National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence (APCVD) to promote safer, more inclusive and welcoming sporting events and its endeavour to strengthen and empower multi-institutional collaboration networks. Since its inaugural edition in 2023, the S4 Congress has brought together, in person and online, more than 3,900 participants from various countries; an audience composed of professionals in the field, including Safety and Security Managers and Coordinators, Sports Technicians, Sports Venue Stewards, Security Forces and other agents involved in the planning and management of safety at sporting events.
• Training Course for Safety Managers of Sports Venues - Training regulated and made mandatory by law, the Safety Manager acquires the necessary knowledge to act as a key driver in implementing the principles of the Sait-Denis Convention. The training was designed and organised by APCVD and is delivered by the police forces and the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC). It is structured in two levels of complexity – basic and advanced – according to the level of risk and the capacity of the sports venues where events take place. The basic level is provided online, while the advanced level is delivered in a face-to-face format.
• In order to promote qualification and the acquisition of the skills required to perform the duties of a Safety Manager, the course covers topics such as the legal framework, ethics in sport, sports event management and the integrated multi-agency approach. This theoretical and practical training explains the key requirements on safety, security and service, as well as compliance with safety and safety plans and regulations. It encourages effective liaison and coordination with the police, emergency medical services, civil protection, fire services, the competition organiser, private security and all other stakeholders involved in the sports event.
• “Feel at Home” campaign: stands out as an initiative aimed at strengthening the core principles of the European model of safety at sports events, by emphasising the vital role of hospitality in reducing tensions and hostility which, in turn, contributes significantly to reducing incidents of violence and increasing safety at these events. Developed with the support of various entities that make up the working group, the campaign has been accompanied by a set of concrete actions designed to create a more welcoming and safer environment in sports venues. “Feel at Home” seeks to raise awareness among event organisers and promoters, particularly clubs, about the importance of creating a hospitable environment. The idea is to foster a reciprocal sense of hospitality, increasing the likelihood that supporters feel welcome, valued and safe. This approach not only helps attract more families to the venues, but also promotes healthy interaction between supporters, which is a central objective in APCVD’s overall strategy.

Last major sporting events organised since 2000 and key elements of their legacy

• Men's Handball World Championship 2003
• European Football Championship 2004 - the biggest sporting event ever held in Portugal, with a strong legacy regarding the “Service” and hospitality at sports events, as well as the “low profile” policing model. The key elements of its legacy are well described in this document  (“UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal: Lessons learnt from a successful tournament”, Rapporteur: Paulo Gomes, Ministry of the Interior, Portugal, Lisbon, 3 May 2005)
• UEFA Nations League Final Four (2019)
• UEFA Champions League Final 2021 (and also 2014, and the 2020 CL Final Eight)
• 2021 European Judo Championships

Future major sporting events organised and/or co-organized within the next 5 years

• The 2030 FIFA World Cup hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

The country's main sporting competitions

• 1^st and 2^nd Professional Football League and Portuguese FA Cup
• Basketball League
• National Futsal Championship
• Portuguese Handball Championship
• Portuguese Roller Hockey Championship

National supporter organisations or National team supporter organisations

• Portuguese Association for the Defence of Supporters

National team supporter organisation

Information not available

Main club supporter organisations

National supporter organisations or National team supporter organisations: which supporter organisations are involved at national level in representing supporters to public authorities or sports federations?

• Portuguese Association for the Defence of Supporters

National legal framework on sports safety and security, including specific legal provisions on:

List of main laws and regulations

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current wording - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events
• Law-Decree nr. 141/2009 - Legal regime of sports infrastructures for public use 
• Law nr. 123/2019 of October 18, third amendment to the Law-Decree nr. 220/2008 of November 12, establishing the legal framework for fire safety in buildings
• Ministerial Order nr. 135/2020, changing the Technical Regulation of safety against fire in buildings, approved by Ordinance nr. 1532/2008 of December 29
• Law-Decree nr. 52/2013 of April 17 - Undertakes the first amendment to Law-Decree nr. 216/2012, of October 9, establishing the requirement for policing at sports events integrated in professional sports competitions

National / local coordination bodies

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

National S4 policy

• Parliament’s Resolution nr. 52/2018, Approves the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Approach to Safety, Security and Services on the Occasion of Football Matches and Other Sporting Events, opened for signature in Saint-Denis on July 3, 2016

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Share of safety and security responsibilities (inside/outside of sports venues)

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports events

Stewarding/ private security

• Law nr. 46/2019 – Legal regime regarding the private security activity and self-protection

Sports venues safety regulations, licensing, certification and inspection

Municipalities:

• Law-Decree nr. 555/99, of December 16 - Legal Regime of Urbanization and Construction (on its latest version)
• Law-Decree nr. 163/2006 - Approves the regime of accessibility to buildings and establishments that receive the public, public roads and residential buildings, revoking Law-Decree nr. 123/97, of May 22 

Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ):

• Law-Decree nr. 141/2009 - Legal regime of sports infrastructures for public use
• Decree nr. 10/2001 Regulation of the Technical and Safety Conditions of Stadiums
• Ordinance N.º 454/2023, of 28 December - Approves the general technical and operational requirements for public sports facilities

National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC):

• Law nr. 123/2019 of October 18, third amendment to Law-Decree nr. 220/2008 of November 12, establishing the legal framework for fire safety in buildings
• Ministerial Order nr. 135/2020, Technical Regulations for Fire Safety in Buildings, Amendment to the Technical Regulation of Security against Fire in Buildings, approved by Ordinance nr. 1532/2008 of December 29

National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence (APCVD):

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events
•  

Sport-related hate speech, racism and other types of discrimination

Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination:

• Law nr. 93/2017, legal regime for preventing, prohibiting and combating discrimination on the grounds of racial and ethnic origin, colour, nationality, ancestry and territory of origin

National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence:

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current wording - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Pyrotechnics and other forbidden items

• Law-Decree nr. 135/2015 - Defines the rules establishing the free movement of pyrotechnic articles, as well as the essential safety requirements that pyrotechnic articles must meet in order to be made available on the market, transposing Directive 2013/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, of June 12, 2013, and Commission Enforcement Directive 2014/58/EU, of April 16, 2014
• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events
•  

Social-educational preventative measures/projects

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Alcohol/drug policy

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Specific sport-related misbehaviour typified as crime

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Specific sport-related misbehaviour typified as misdemeanour

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Exclusion policy (banning orders / exit bans)

Judicial banning orders: as a restraining order or accessory sanction,

Administrative: precautionary measures or accessory sanction,

Disciplinary measures: applied by the sports justice system.

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current version - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events

Measures taken / envisaged by States to meet the objectives of the Convention

• Parliament’s Resolution n. º 52/2018, Approves the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Approach to Safety, Security and Services on the Occasion of Football Matches and Other Sporting Events, opened for signature in Saint-Denis on July 3, 2016
• Decree nr. 10/2018 - Establishment of the National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence

Existence of specific safety, security and/or service public policies

• Law nr. 39/2009 in its current wording - Legal Regime of safety, security and fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance at sports events
• Parliament’s Resolution n. º 52/2018, Approves the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Approach to Safety, Security and Services on the Occasion of Football Matches and Other Sporting Events, opened for signature in Saint-Denis on July 3, 2016
• PNED - The National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED) represents a government initiative and is hosted by the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, I. P. It is a set of structured and planned initiatives, which aim to disseminate and promote the living of ethical values inherent in the practice of sports, such as truth, respect, responsibility, friendship, cooperation, tolerance and inclusion, among many others
• Violência Zero - "Zero Violence" is the name of the national campaign to combat violence in sport. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the phenomenon of violence by promoting the ethical values of sport, such as cooperation, respect, solidarity and tolerance.
• Sintam-se em Casa – “Feel yourself at home” is a campaign with the aim of providing experiences of hospitality, of healthy conviviality between the supporters of both clubs, in familiar and welcoming environments, and that contribute to the supporters feeling safe, secure and welcomed.

Existence of a national strategy on security, safety, and services

Under development

Existence of (a) regional/ local strategy(ies) on security, safety, and services

None

Major risks and trends on sport-related violence and disorder

Portugal is facing a considerable and continuous growth of number of individuals becoming part of “casual” groups, formed within the major organised “ultra” supporters’ groups.  These groups and the major “ultra” groups are now not only attending football matches, but also spreading to all the sports in which their favourite clubs participate, such as futsal, handball, and roller hockey. Due to the increase of security measures, most of the incidents are now occurring outside stadia and far from them, sometimes not even related to the match day. In Portugal, most of the violent behaviour is related to the use of pyrotechnic devices, physical assault and vandalism against structures related to their rival clubs. The numbers of violent demonstrations against referees, FA officials, and their club players and board in face of bad results are also rising.

Most relevant incidents

Last major incidents which seem relevant and enlightening on the need to adopt an integrated approach to safety, security and service.

• April 2017 – FC Porto supporters violently assault a bus of SL Benfica supporters. 2 persons were injured.
• April 2017 – During a brawl between SL Benfica supporters and Sporting CP supporters near SL Benfica’s stadium, in match day -1, a Fiorentina supporter, who was in Portugal due to good relations between Sporting and Fiorentina, died, after being ran over by a car driven by a SL Benfica supporter.
• November 2017 – 9 police officers were injured when trying to stop a fight between SL Benfica and Vitoria SC supporters inside Guimarães stadium. The match was stopped for more than 5 minutes.
• May 2018 – Sporting CP training centre was attacked by their own ultra-group, during a training session, due to bad results. The head coach an many players were physically assaulted.
• December 2018 – one person was badly injured after SL Benfica supporters’ bus was attacked by SC Braga supporters in the highway.
• May 2019 – After winning the national championship, and during celebrations, 37 SL Benfica supporters were arrested for assaulting police officers and for using pyros.
• June 2020 – 7 SL Benfica Ultra group and casual leaders were arrested as a result of a police investigation related to violent incidents in the sports context.
• May 2021 – During the champion title celebrations of Sporting CP, 3 supporters were arrested for assaulting Police officers and 30 supporters were identified for different reasons. 4 police officers and dozens of supporters were injured as consequence of throwing bottles, rocks and pyrotechnics.
• December 2021 – 54 risk supporters of Dynamo Kiev were arrested after a brawl with SL Benfica supporters and the Portuguese Police, before the match. 12 supporters and 1 Police Officer were injured.
• August 2022 – 154 risk supporters of Hajduk Split (148) and SL Benfica (6 from Ultras Group "No Name Boys") were identified for throwing several pyrotechnics in Guimarães city, on the MD-1.
• February 2023 – 28 risk supporters, Casuals, from SL Benfica and Sporting CP were arrested because of a police investigation related to violent incidents in the sports context.
• June 2025 - After the roller hockey game, a group of Sporting CP supporters attacked FC Porto supporters, setting their vehicle on fire. During the investigation, 7 fans were arrested.

Graph of the evolution of total incidents over the last 10 years

Regarding the number of incidents, please take in considering that until season 2016/2017 the scope was only on the First Division and cup finals, and since the season 2017/2018 all the leagues started to be considered.