Benfica: Mourinho may see punishment reviewed by the sports arbitration court.

Benfica finds itself at a tense and decisive crossroads as it considers the possibility of appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) regarding the punishment of José Mourinho. The coach of the Benfica team was penalized by the Disciplinary Council (CD) of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) due to a controversial red card and an incident involving Lucho González during the heated classic against FC Porto. Following the recent ruling by the CD, which deemed the hierarchical appeal submitted by the club as “totally unfounded,” hopes of having the sanction overturned are not completely lost. Benfica is now contemplating filing for an injunction at the TAD.

Mourinho faced a one-match suspension and a fine of €1,530, imposed following the red card he received in the 91st minute of the match. Referee João Pinheiro, responsible for officiating the game, emphasized in his report that the coach ventured outside the technical area, provocatively kicking the ball towards the opposing bench. The match delegate corroborated this account, stating that Mourinho kicked the ball towards the stands, an action that did not go unnoticed.

The decision of the Disciplinary Committee (CD) was not limited to this infraction, as Mourinho was also suspended for 11 days due to allegations of damage to honor and reputation, as well as for slanderous denunciation related to the confrontation with Lucho González, assistant coach of the opposing team. According to the report, Mourinho addressed the assistant with disdainful gestures, repeating the phrase “you are small,” to which González responded with an accusation of betrayal.

In light of this situation, Benfica considers the punishment imposed on Mourinho to be “manifestly unjust, disproportionate, and persecutory,” stating that the decision of the CD does not accurately reflect the events that unfolded at the end of the match. The club has filed an appeal to the CD, but the request for a suspensive effect was quickly denied, forcing Mourinho to watch the game against Arouca from the club’s bus, a clear sign of the tension permeating the relationship between the coach and the current administration of Portuguese football.

With the first part of the punishment already served, Mourinho now faces the possibility of missing the upcoming clash against Vitória de Guimarães, scheduled for Saturday at 6 PM at the Estádio da Luz. If the appeal to the TAD is not filed or is not accepted, the coach will only be able to return to the bench for the trip to Casa Pia on Matchday 28, after the break for international commitments.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Benfica and for Mourinho himself, who remains one of the most controversial and charismatic figures in Portuguese football. The pressure is high, and the club’s next steps will be crucial in shaping the immediate future of the team and its coach.