The EBU have banned Portuguese Eurovision entrant Salvador Sobral from wearing his “S.O.S Refugees” jumper in tonight’s Grand Final opening sequence.

Salvador Sobral has been wearing his “S.O.S Refugees” jumper on a number of occasions throughout this years contest, but the EBU have banned him from wearing it in the Grand Final opening sequence and during the voting in the green room as he had planned. The EBU claims that the jumper enforces a “political message”, which goes against the rules of the contest and so is not allowed.

Portugal has recently been placed at the top of the betting odds for this years Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, and is currently a favourite to win.

Portugal recently qualified for the Final for the first time in seven years. Salvador Sobral will represent Portugal at this years contest with his song “Amar Pelos Dois”. Salvador is being named as “one of the great promises of the Portuguese music scene”. Moving from developing as an unknown artist, to an artist thrown into the limelight since competing in Festival da Canção 2017. Since performing in last nights semi final, Portugal is now second favourite to win with the bookies.

RTP will be using two hashtags that it will be using on social media in preparation for the contest: #OperacaoKievand #Salvadorable. The latter of the two hashtags is playing on a hashtag that first emerged within the Eurovision fan community during the Portuguese selection.

Source: ESC Portugal

Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 represented by António Calvário, the country finished last scoring nul points. To date the best result of Portugal in the contest is 6th place. This 6th place came in 1996 when Lúcia Moniz performed “O meu coração não tem cor” on stage in Oslo, Norway. She scored 92 points receiving 12 points from both Norway and Cyprus. Since their debut in 1964 Portugal has missed a total of five contests, the latest being in 2016.