Need to know
Arsenal return to Champions League action this evening but there is some confusion over whether or not their quarter-final opponents are called Sporting CP or Sporting Lisbon
Arsenal face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals
Arsenal face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals(Image: (Photo by Miguel Lemos/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
Why Sporting CP are not called Sporting Lisbon explained
Official club name: The correct and official name of the club is Sporting Clube de Portugal, which is often shortened to Sporting CP. This title reflects their identity as a national institution rather than just a local city team.
The "Sporting Lisbon" error: While "Sporting Lisbon" is commonly used by international media and fans to identify the club's location, the club itself does not use this name. In fact, many of their supporters and officials consider the term "Sporting Lisbon" to be incorrect or even a slight.
Domestic vs international: In Portugal, the club is almost exclusively referred to simply as "Sporting." The "CP" (Clube de Portugal) is added internationally to distinguish them from other clubs with similar names, such as Sporting Gijón or Sporting Braga.
Legal and brand identity: The club's badge and official documents strictly feature the words "Sporting Portugal." They have campaigned for years to have international broadcasters and UEFA use their proper name to respect their historical branding.
UEFA's official stance: In all official UEFA Champions League documentation, including tonight’s match graphics and team sheets, the opponent is listed as Sporting CP. You will notice that the "Lisbon" tag is absent from the official scoreboard and stadium announcements.
The "CP" meaning: For those curious about the acronym, the "CP" stands for Clube de Portugal. It highlights the club’s founding vision in 1906 to be a "great club, as great as the greatest in Europe," representing the entire country.
Why the confusion persists: The name "Sporting Lisbon" became a habit for English-speaking fans decades ago as a way to differentiate them from their cross-town rivals, Benfica. Despite the club's efforts to correct it, the geographical label stuck in the common football lexicon.
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