Rui Costa explodes against refereeing: “The referee tried to prevent Benfica from reaching the Champions!”
The president of Benfica did not hide his outrage after the bitter 2-2 draw against Famalicão, in a decisive match in the fight for qualification for the Champions League. Rui Costa launched severe accusations and placed the refereeing at the center of a controversy that could shake the aspirations of the red club.
“I come to express my indignation about what happened here today. There were crucial, unacceptable incidents; no one has the right to decide who wins championships or who goes to the Champions League other than the players or coaches on the field,” Rui Costa stated, in a direct and straightforward criticism.
The official highlighted a moment he considers decisive for the outcome of the match: “Benfica is fighting for the Champions League, and what the referee, this gentleman, did here is to try to prevent Benfica from going to the Champions League. There are few words to justify why he did not award that penalty to Benfica.” Rui Costa’s indignation grew as he listed the errors that, in his opinion, influenced the result.
“«It was an attempt to prevent Benfica from reaching the Champions League. A clear penalty at the 30th minute that he did not call. And it’s the same referee who awarded a penalty to Casa Pia in the first leg, who today failed to see it,» he accused, recalling a previous controversial episode that, according to him, demonstrates a lack of consistency on the part of the referee.
But the contestation did not stop there: «He already missed the first penalty, it took VAR to call him. In the play leading to Famalicão’s second goal, there was no corner. Then there are the 15 minutes of stoppage time that have no explanation, even with the substitution of the linesman due to injury,» denounced Rui Costa, questioning the management of time and the decisions that, in his view, were clearly against Benfica.
For the Benfica president, the refereeing had a deliberate intervention: «What he came to do here today was to try to make Benfica leave here defeated. There is no other word, this gentleman came here to harm Benfica!»
This stance taken by Rui Costa casts a shadow over the integrity of the game and promises to fuel a heated debate in the coming days. The fight for the Champions League is intense and Benfica clearly feels wronged, expecting clear answers from the entities responsible for refereeing in Portuguese football.”
With this controversy still unresolved, Benfica is preparing to continue the battle on the field, but the protests against the refereeing are set to remain vocal, fostering a climate of tension that could decisively shape what remains of the season.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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