Decade-Old Youth Futsal Brawl Trial Begins for Portuguese Man Accused of Assaulting Guard

A decade-old brawl at a youth futsal match in Sant Julià de Lòria has reached trial in the Tribunal de Corts, with the prosecution accusing a 59-year-old Portuguese resident of major and minor intentional injury offences against a security guard.

The incident occurred on 29 October 2016 at the Sant Julià sports centre during a children's game. Tensions rose in the stands after the referee showed a red card to the defendant's then-20-year-old son. The defendant, seated in the front row, protested and initially refused to leave when security intervened. He maintains he never entered the court, insulted the referee beyond telling him to "do his job," or threatened anyone. Video footage shows him exiting the pavilion first, followed by other parents and the guard, before a physical confrontation erupted outside at the reception area.

Both sides agree a fight took place, but accounts differ sharply. The defendant claims the guard struck first with a punch after grabbing him by the chest and forcing him to sit earlier, prompting mutual exchanges of punches and kicks in self-defence. He reports injuries to his eyes, knees, and ribs but sought no medical care. Witnesses described the guard's ejection as "humiliating" and "forceful," with one seeing him deliver the initial punch outside. The referee, testifying by video call, recalled a typical atmosphere, no direct threats or assaults on him, and confirmed security handled the spectator's removal. His report had cited insults like "gordo de mierda" and "asqueroso," but he has only a vague memory beyond a document he did not write.

Prosecution and defence both seek acquittal. Footage captures a chaotic scrum with punches but does not clarify who started it. Faded memories after nearly eight years, judicial delays, and incomplete videos have muddied details. The defendant's lawyer noted his conflict-free record in sports since.

Separately, the court heard a case against two nightclub bouncers accused of minor intentional injuries to three clients outside a venue on 24 June 2018. The prosecution seeks five and three months' conditional nighttime arrest, fines of €3,000 and €1,500, and victim compensations up to €2,250 each, citing medical visits including X-rays. Defences demand acquittal or reclassification as minor infractions—prescribed after eight years—arguing injuries needed only painkillers like ibuprofen, with conflicting witness accounts of the ejection of an intoxicated patron escalating into alleged assaults. A verdict in both cases is pending.