Sporting CP President Confirms Disciplinary Action Against Gyokeres Amid Controversy

‎Sporting has already taken disciplinary action against Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres after he failed to show up for his duties, club president Frederico Varandas confirmed on Saturday.

‎Asked to comment on the absence of the striker, who is demanding to leave the club, Varandas praised the club’s defence of its interests and reiterated his confidence that the situation will be resolved.

‎”We’re calm. Everything will be resolved with the close of the market, a hefty fine, and an apology to the group,” the Sporting president began.

‎Gyokeres, the top scorer in the league over the past two seasons, has been at the center of a transfer saga, with numerous reports of interest from English club Arsenal.

‎”If they don’t want to pay the fair market value for Viktor (Gyokeres), we’re very comfortable with that for the next three years,” emphasised Varandas.

‎The 27-year-old striker arrived at the Lisbon club at the start of 2023/24 from English side Coventry for 20 million euros (ME), signing a contract until 2027/28 with a 100 ME break clause.

‎”If the geniuses who are drawing up this strategy think that this is putting pressure on me to make it easier to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave. Nobody is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are,” Varandas told Lusa.

‎Gyökeres missed Sporting’s first team presentation this Saturday as the squad traveled to Lagos for their pre-season training camp.

‎The team, led by coach Rui Borges, will stay in the south until July 22nd. During the camp, they are scheduled to play two private matches against Celtic on Wednesday and Sunderland on the 21st, both at the Algarve Stadium.

‎The Lions will face Villarreal on the 25th in the Five Violins Trophy at the Estadio Nacional in Oeiras, as a result of maintenance work at Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium.

‎Their first official match of the 2025/26 season will be against rivals Benfica on the 31st, also at the Estadio Algarve, for the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup.