Rui Costa promises zero tolerance with Pedro Proença after criticism of the refereeing.

Rui Costa did not hold back and issued an unprecedented warning to the Refereeing Council and Pedro Proença, promising a relentless stance from Benfica in the upcoming season. The Benfica president, visibly dissatisfied with the course of events, took advantage of the General Assembly held on Saturday, June 27, at the Pavilhão da Luz to express his displeasure regarding what he deemed a “terrible” season in terms of refereeing. The leader of the eagles made it clear that patience has reached its limit and that tolerance towards the bodies of Portuguese football will be, from now on, non-existent.

In the presence of the shareholders, Rui Costa emphasized that refereeing was one of the factors that most harmed Benfica throughout the season. “I did not justify a terrible season with the refereeing, but I cannot fail to point that out as one of the reasons that prevented us from achieving our goals. It was not the main reason, but it was very important,” the Benfica president stated, highlighting that the club from Luz publicly expressed its concerns to the Refereeing Council several times, without receiving any response or change in behavior from the competent authorities.

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The criticism went even further when Rui Costa detailed Benfica’s efforts to report specific situations. “We have publicly expressed ourselves to the Arbitration Council more than once, showing the processes in which we felt disadvantaged, and we presented proposals,” he recalled. The Benfica leader did not hide his frustration at the fact that the club’s complaints had been ignored, emphasizing that the Benfica management is now preparing for a much more aggressive and uncompromising approach.

The impact of these statements is immediate and places even more pressure on Pedro Proença, president of Liga Portugal, and on the Arbitration Council of the Portuguese Football Federation itself. Rui Costa was clear in stating: “We will enter this season with zero tolerance towards the Disciplinary Council, the Portuguese Football Federation, and Pedro Proença. We will not be tied down or held back by anything. We will defend the club against anyone,” he assured, eliciting applause from many present at the Assembly.

This speech, laden with indignation, comes at a crucial moment for Portuguese football, where the credibility of refereeing has been under scrutiny and controversies multiply week after week. For Benfica supporters, Rui Costa’s promise represents a strategic shift: the era of diplomacy is over, and the era of direct confrontation with the structures of national football begins. The lack of responses to the club’s complaints and the alleged passivity of regulatory bodies have only deepened the atmosphere of distrust surrounding national competitions.

With the start of the new season approaching, the words of the Benfica president foreshadow an even tenser environment behind the scenes of Portuguese football. The club from Luz is preparing to demand respect and transparency in every decision, promising to fight, both on and off the pitch, for what it believes it is entitled to. The pressure on Pedro Proença and the disciplinary bodies will be at its peak, and Rui Costa made it clear that Benfica will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

The next step, sources close to the management assure, will involve close scrutiny of all refereeing decisions and even more assertive and public communication whenever Benfica feels wronged. The members, who expressed dissatisfaction with last season, demand answers and results. For Rui Costa, the time for excuses is over. The leadership at Benfica is now under the watchful eye of a fanbase that will not accept anything less than a combative and firm stance against what they consider a hostile system.

With this change in attitude, Benfica promises to shake up Portuguese football. It remains to be seen whether the Arbitration Council and Pedro Proença will respond to this ultimatum or if the confrontational atmosphere will escalate further in the upcoming season. One thing is certain: from now on, the Eagles are prepared to let nothing slide, no matter the cost.