Following the 2-2 draw between SC Braga and Benfica, both club presidents expressed intense dissatisfaction with the match refereeing team, leveling severe criticism at the officials and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
António Salvador Criticizes Lack of Conditions for Refereeing Team
SC Braga president António Salvador stated that “the conditions for the refereeing team to do a good job were not met.” Salvador alleged that his team was harmed by the officiating, claiming that both of Benfica`s goals were preceded by fouls committed by the visiting players.
He defended the technical quality of the VAR, Tiago Martins, but suggested that the official’s ability to perform was compromised due to external pressures stemming from previous incidents, noting that Martins had been sidelined since his last game involving Benfica.
Salvador listed several controversial moments: “The proof that conditions were not met was seen just seven minutes in, when the game became conditioned by a penalty [that should have been called] for a stamp in the area on Pau, and a kick on Moutinho. And Benfica`s first goal followed a push on Moutinho, which took him out of the play, and Otamendi scored; therefore, it was an attacking foul. And on Benfica`s second goal, there was a clear foul on Ricardo Horta, and the advantage rule should not have been applied. It was a foul and the goal should not have happened,” he enumerated.
Salvador concluded his comments by stressing that “responsible parties must protect the refereeing system and the VAR and create all conditions so that they can perform their duties, even those who are the best.”
Rui Costa Denounces `Clean Goal… Incredibly Disallowed`
Benfica president Rui Costa focused his criticism on the disallowed goal scored by Dahl, which would have given Benfica a 3-2 lead. He called it a “clean goal, completely clean, and incredibly disallowed,” stating he could not find an explanation for the decision.
Rui Costa acknowledged the intensity of the game, noting that “a good football match, two good teams, the first half belonged to SC Braga, the second to Benfica. A disallowed goal remains unexplained, and I cannot find an explanation. The 3-2 goal referred to involved a challenge that does not look like a foul to us at all. But it is what it is. We dropped two more points here, when that goal, which could have given us the victory, was a clean goal.”
In a surprising twist, Rui Costa concurred with António Salvador`s concern that VAR Tiago Martins was not in the ideal position to serve as VAR for the encounter, echoing the sentiment of external conditioning.
Despite the frustration, Rui Costa guaranteed that Benfica remains committed to the title fight, even though the draw leaves them potentially 10 points behind the current leader. “We did not expect, at all, to be 10 points behind the first placed team. Curiously, we reached this disadvantage without defeats, but with three draws at home. We must continue to believe in the title. In the same way we lost these points, our opponents can also lose them. We still have a lot to fight for. No one is going to throw in the towel. No one will give up now, I can guarantee that to the Benfica supporters,” he concluded.
