A former Portuguese football sporting director and his son have been formally accused of assaulting a player who confronted them over nine months of unpaid wages.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against Rui Loja, who was sporting director for Moncarrapachense, and his son Afonso Loja, a player for the same club at the time. The incident occurred in 2023.
The alleged assault took place in the team’s locker room after a training session. The victim, Brazilian player Rafael Busqueti, reportedly suffered “abundant bleeding and bruises.”
Busqueti was allegedly punched and kicked during the altercation. The confrontation began after Busqueti was informed he would be moved to the club’s under-23 squad.
He then confronted Rui Loja, demanding his nine months of overdue salary. Other team members were present and attempted to intervene during the dispute.
Busqueti reportedly shared a video of the incident on his social media at the time.
Both the Portuguese Players’ Union and the Authority for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sport (APCVD) filed criminal complaints. These complaints led to the current charges against Rui Loja and Afonso Loja.
Moncarrapachense was competing in Portugal’s Liga 3 at the time of the alleged incident.