“Benfica loses appeal and the fine for criticisms of Fábio Veríssimo remains.”

The Arbitration Court for Sport (TAD) has made a decision that promises to further stir the waters of Portuguese football, rejecting Sport Lisboa e Benfica’s appeal against the fine of €1,836 imposed by the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). This sanction arose following strong criticisms directed at referee Fábio Veríssimo, published on the club’s official account on the social network X, just two days before the anticipated clash in the Supertaça Cândido Oliveira, where Benfica faced eternal rivals Sporting at the Estádio do Algarve.

Benfica’s statements accused Veríssimo of committing “notorious errors” that benefited Sporting in previous matches and of ignoring a “clear penalty” in favor of the club from Luz, which were at the heart of the controversy. The club argued in its appeal that its observations were a legitimate expression of freedom, supported by concrete data, such as the statistics of matches officiated by Veríssimo, which show a disparity in his performance: six matches for Sporting and only two for Benfica in the 2024/25 season. Furthermore, the club cited criticisms published in reputable media outlets, such as A BOLA, Record, and O Jogo, which corroborated its position.

However, the arbitration panel of the TAD, by majority, decided to uphold the ruling of the FPF, arguing that the criticisms made by Benfica did not fall under the protection of personal honor, but rather aimed at creating an illicit act that seeks to protect the independence of refereeing. The TAD made a clear distinction between articles 75 and 77 of the FPF Disciplinary Regulation, clarifying that the former does not protect personal honor but aims to prevent pressures and suspicions that could influence referees’ decisions, even if unconsciously. Therefore, the factual basis of the criticisms or the lack of concrete damage were deemed irrelevant in the decision.

In addition to the fine, Benfica will also have to bear additional costs of 4,150 euros, further exacerbating the club’s financial situation at an already delicate moment. With this decision, the tension between Benfica and refereeing is set to continue, and the reaction from the fans and club officials will undoubtedly be a point of attention in the coming days.

The national sport is in constant turmoil, and this episode underscores the need to discuss the integrity of Portuguese football, the actions of referees, and the freedom of expression of clubs. Will Benfica find new ways to contest decisions it deems unfair, or will this episode serve as a warning to other clubs wishing to express their opinions? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: the controversy is far from over.