Luís Hemir was left on the bench for Moreirense after a disciplinary issue before the FC Porto match
Sunderland loanee Luís Hemir has encountered a difficult moment in his spell with Portuguese side Moreirense after being left on the bench following what his manager described as a disciplinary issue.
The 22-year-old striker had begun to show tentative signs of progress in Portugal. Earlier this month, he scored against Nacional in the Primeira Liga, a goal that appeared to mark a positive step after a stop-start run of form. However, Hemir did not feature in Moreirense’s recent 3-1 defeat to FC Porto, remaining on the bench for the entire match and notably not taking part in the warm-up.
According to reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola, the decision was not purely tactical. The report suggests the Sunderland player’s absence from the action followed behaviour before the trip to the Estádio do Dragão that the club deemed inappropriate. While the incident was not considered serious enough for Hemir to be removed from the matchday squad entirely, the club felt there needed to be some form of consequence.
Moreirense head coach Vasco Botelho addressed the situation after the game and stressed that the decision was made with the player’s development in mind. “He is one of the boys in this team I have known since he was seven years old,” the coach said, adding that Semedo is “a player I love” but one who “has to understand that we are a group, and the group will always be above the individual. We are here to help everyone grow, and sometimes helping them grow means making difficult decisions.”
Hemir joined Moreirense on loan last August and remains under contract with Sunderland until June 2028. The move was intended to provide the forward with regular senior football after a mixed spell last season with Juventus Next Gen, where his minutes were limited.
Returning to Portugal was viewed as an opportunity to find stability and rediscover form in a league and environment more familiar to him. There were early signs that the arrangement could prove beneficial. Hemir settled into the squad and previously spoke about his ambition to use the loan to rebuild confidence and eventually return to Sunderland in a stronger position.
Statistically, his contribution has been modest but steady. Across 15 league appearances, he has registered two goals and one assist while accumulating 717 minutes of playing time. However, the latest episode has shifted attention away from his performances on the pitch. Hemir’s next opportunity could come when Moreirense face Arouca on Saturday, where he will again compete for a place in the starting line-up. Injuries within the squad mean there remains a pathway back into the team, but the Sunderland loanee will now need to respond positively after the setback.
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