Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is again a subject in the Portuguese media today.
The reason is a little quarrel the player was involved in following a match between Benfica and Porto last season.
As reported by O Jogo, Vlachodimos was seen on that occasion calling the Dragons a ‘sh..’ club, despite the Eagles’ effort to convince people that he said ‘cheat club’.
With the Disciplinary Council confirming the insult, the goalkeeper was risking a punishment of between one and four matches in Portugal.
However, as reported by O Jogo, he’s been ‘saved by the Pope’.
No, you haven’t read that wrong.
O Jogo say it’s ‘thanks to the pardon scheme established during Pope Francis’ visit to Portugal for World Youth Day (WYD) in August’.
‘He was amnestied by Law 38-A/2023, which establishes a pardon for penalties due to the organisation of WYD’, they say.
Benfica didn’t have the same luck, though, as Benfica ended up being fined, and will have to pay €16.320 because of Vlachodimos’ attitude.
The Greek goalkeeper left Benfica this summer, as following a disagreement with manager Roger Schmidt, he agreed to a move to Nottingham Forest.
The Reds spent €4.9m on his signing, but Steve Cooper is still to give him the opportunity to make his debut for the club.
Nottingham Forest’s next match is against Brentford at the City Ground on Sunday.
