The stadium lights shone brightly at Alvalade, but for St. Juste, the experience felt different. He was there to watch the game, just like any other match night. However, a major change had stripped him of certain comforts. Gone were the small perks he enjoyed for the past three years. He discovered he no longer had a reserved parking spot meant for first-team players. Record brought these details to light.
This sudden shift caught the central defender off guard. The club’s rules, however, backed the decision. Since the start of the month, Sporting had reclassified him as a B-team player. Those in the secondary squad do not get guaranteed underground parking at Alvalade. This meant St. Juste had to park his car outside the usual zone, on level -2 of the stadium. It was a clear sign of his changed status.
Being part of the B-team meant his matchday access also changed. The Dutch player received two regular stand tickets, sent to him yesterday morning. His previous VIP access, common for main squad members, was no longer available. Yet, St. Juste still found a way into a VIP box for the game. The photograph by Record shows him among the main team players who were not called up. Rui Silva, Diomande, Geny Catamo, Nuno Santos, and Daniel Bragança were also there. This happened because one of his teammates did not use his VIP invitation and kindly passed it on to the defender.