The five elements of the No Name Boys cheerleading squad charged with the attempted murder of a Sporting fan were acquitted this Thursday by the Sintra court.
The case dates back to May 2020, in Estoril, when a group of supporters linked to Benfica Sporting supporter João Paulo attacked Araújo, with the Sintra court acquitting the five defendants for lack of evidence in its verdict released today.
The Sintra court also today sentenced 11 of the 31 elements linked to the No Name Boys cheerleaders, who were also tried for the attack on the Benfica team bus, to a suspended sentence.
These elements were convicted of the crimes of simple damage, assault on the safety of road transport, possession of a prohibited weapon, simple threat, simple theft and violation of qualified physical integrity.
Convicts are also prohibited from visiting sporting venues while on probation, and none of the sentences imposed exceed five years.
The Public Prosecution Service had asked for the conviction of three defendants for attempted manslaughter against the Sporting fan and the acquittal of the other two.
The trial also involved other cheerleaders who were accused of assaulting road transport security over the alleged stoning of the club’s own bus, which injured two athletes.
A total of 31 members of the unauthorized Benfica No Name Boys cheerleading team were tried for various assaults between 2018 and 2020, including stoning the club bus, assaulting three Sporting fans and threats in the building where coach Bruno Lage lived.
Source: DN
