The President of the Portuguese Judo Federation (FPJ), Jorge Fernandes, was relieved of his duties this Sunday, with delegates to the organization’s General Assembly, which took place in Coimbra, where the decision was voted almost unanimously.
According to the FPJ’s advice, 45 of the delegates present voted to resign, one abstained and there were no votes against, in a decision motivated by the risk of loss of public utility status or by management disagreements.
“In view of the risk of suspension of the Statute of Public Utility or because of disagreement with the policies of the Board, 45 deputies voted in favor of dismissal, with 1 abstention and 0 votes against,” says the FPJ consultancy.
Jorge Fernandes himself had already appealed for his resignation, although his re-candidacy for the leadership of the body is a scenario on the table, as he underlined in statements to the Lusa agency a month ago.
“It is clear that I can continue, it is clear that I have a mission to fulfill that I have not yet accomplished, and it is clear that I have the support of 90% of the delegates in the Assembly. Commissioned by 90 , 95% guaranteed,” Jorge Fernandes said in November.
The leader then manifested himself following the conclusions of the investigation opened by the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, through a complaint from the coach and president of the Judo Association of Castelo Branco, Abel Louro.
In the conclusions of the investigation, on November 15, the IPDJ found the loss of the mandate of Jorge Fernandes on the understanding that the FPJ management violated Article 51 of the Legislative Regime of Sports Federations (RJFD), which prohibits the loss of the mandate of holders regulates federal agencies, for ineligibility, incompatibility, or for interfering with a contract in which they are interested.
At stake, according to the investigation, is the recruitment in 2021 of Jorge Alberto Fernandes, the son of the president, to the FPJ, and the fact that the Federation’s top manager plays the role of coach at the Judo Clube de Coimbra, two scenarios incompatible with the functions he played.
In the note released to the press today, AG president Carlos Andrade said that “the call for early elections will be published in the coming days”.
Source: DN
