Porto will seek compensation from the Portuguese league after the
federation reduced Hulk's suspension from four months to just three
games.
Hulk was suspended for four months by the league, with
team-mate Cristian Sapunaru handed a six-month ban, for their part
in a tunnel bust-up involving Benfica stewards last December.
However, the federation have now slashed that to just three
matches - four for Sapunaru - following Porto's appeal.
The imposing centre-forward has already missed 17 games,
which has had a detrimental effect on Porto's hopes of retaining
the title, leaving coach Jesualdo Ferreira fuming.
"Finally we have the decision of the Portuguese Football
Federation's Council of Justice to remove Hulk's and Sapunaru's
punishments, after nearly three months of absence," he said.
"When I said it was a disgrace, it seems that I was right.
"All this damaged Porto, it's players. They are major
investments and we feel aggrieved."
Porto have released a statement announcing they have
"instructed their lawyers to bring the appropriate measures of
accountability and compensation" against both the league and its
directors, as well as calling for heads to roll.
The repercussions following the federation's decision have
already started with league president Herminio Loureiro handing in
his resignation.
However, Ferreira believes that should be just the beginning.
"We were deceived," continued the Porto boss. "The sackings,
which have started today and will probably continue, are not enough
for us, because we went through some very complicated situations.
"We are happy that Hulk and Sapunaru have had their sentences
reduced, but we are angry to have been harmed. The way we were
penalised on a sporting level is hard to tell.
"How is it that Portuguese football, which will have a team
in the World Cup, can transmit these images to the world?"
Porto were one point behind Benfica in the Liga Sagres
standings when the suspensions were enforced but now trail the
league leaders by 11 points with just seven games remaining.
Sapunaru was sent out on loan to Rapid Bucharest in February.
