In a shocking turn of events that left Sporting CP fans stunned and furious, manager Ruben Amorim has come under fire after making a controversial and arrogant remark following the club’s humiliating loss to the ASEAN All Stars in the opening match of their summer tour.
The Portuguese coach, often praised for his tactical intelligence and calm demeanor, stunned reporters in the post-match press conference with a statement that many described as dismissive, disrespectful, and completely tone-deaf.
“We only played at 50% of our strength,” Amorim said with a smirk. “They are not worthy to be our opponents.”
The comment came minutes after a 2-1 defeat in a match that was supposed to be a routine warm-up for Sporting CP. Instead, it turned into an embarrassing upset as the ASEAN All Stars — a team composed of some of Southeast Asia’s rising talents — outplayed and outworked the Portuguese giants on nearly every front.
Fans reacted with immediate outrage on social media, accusing Amorim of lacking humility and showing disrespect not only to the opponents but also to the Sporting badge.
“You lose, then say they’re not worthy? That’s the definition of arrogance,” one supporter wrote.
“Sporting means honor. This is not Sporting,” another tweeted, tagging the club’s official account.
Even neutral observers criticized the comment, with some Asian football figures praising the ASEAN side’s spirit and reminding Amorim that football is “played on the pitch, not on paper.”
Sporting players were visibly uncomfortable when asked about the coach’s remarks after the match, with one senior squad member reportedly declining to comment altogether.
While the club has yet to release an official statement, internal sources suggest the backlash has sparked concern behind the scenes, especially considering the growing importance of global outreach and fan diplomacy in these international tours.
As the summer tour continues, Ruben Amorim now finds himself not just under pressure to win — but to regain the respect of the fans and the wider football community.
And in football, sometimes the real test doesn’t come on the pitch — but in how you respond when you’ve been humbled.
