He waved through the new law "despite doubts about the practicality and effectiveness of some solutions adopted, in view of the importance of the values safeguarded and the fact that it secured a very broad consensus, without any vote against."

Parliament approved the law on 5 July that amends the existing legal regime to combat violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports events, with the Communist Party and Greens abstaining and all others voting in favour.

The diploma covers the functions of the Authority for the Prevention of and Combat against Violence in Sport, which was created in August 2018 by the government and is presideded over by Rodrigo Cavaleiro. It seeks to foster a more effective approach to combating the phenomena of violence associated with sports and sports events.

The work of the new authority is in four areas: swift proceedings and transparency, applicability of the law, prevention and organised groups of supporters.

The new legislation, which provides for harsher penalties and concrete measures to identify troublemakers among fans, had already been unanimously approval by the parliamentary groups represented on the committee on media, culture, youth and sport, in December 2018.

The aim of the new legislation is to combat the phenomenon of violence in sport by shortening procedural deadlines, increasing minimum fines and introducing the possibility of partial stadium bans.

Among other measures, it puts greater onus on the organisers of sporting events and foresees the creation of a fan card granting exclusive access to certain areas of venues for some events.