Lights out on common sense

SPORTING LISBON and Chaves played before a handful of fans for just over two minutes yesterday to complete a Portuguese League…

SPORTING LISBON and Chaves played before a handful of fans for just over two minutes yesterday to complete a Portuguese League match suspended 12 days ago. However, the final whistle did not end the controversy over the league game left unfinished because of a power cut. The 145 seconds of play brought no further goals and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Both sides claimed they should have been awarded the points for the match, charging the other with breaking rules, and both said they would lodge formal protests with the Council of Justice, Portuguese soccer's highest legal authority.

Sporting had to fit in the 625 mile round trip to the northern town of Chaves between a Portuguese Cup tie today and a vital championship game with leaders Porto tomorrow. The draw kept Sporting in second place in the League, five points behind Porto.