Benfica has been fined nearly 65,000 euros (64770) by the FPF Disciplinary Board for comments made by Rui Pedro Braz (fined 1,020 euros) after their derby match with Sporting, on 17 April, a match which the Eagles won 2-0.
During the match, the then sporting director was sent off the bench in the 78th minute by referee Fabio Verissimo, and after the match, Rui Pedro Praz himself during the referee and several dead bodies criticized.
“Everything that happened today in Alvalade deserves deep thought on the part of the Portuguese football authorities. There were situations where we felt wronged. I am not targeting the work of Fábio Veríssimo or any of the other professionals, for whom I have great respect. I’ve been to this side. But there seems to be a recurring situation where Benfica is being systematically hurt. I don’t think it’s premeditated, because I seriously believe in people. This has also happened in youth sports and football. Why was Benfica disrespected?
Benfica deserves respect. Today I can’t have a young 20-year-old at Villa de Conde utter the words of helplessness and helplessness to turn around, a young man in the prime of his career saying ‘I believe that one day Benfica will be respected’. I can’t admit it. This young man should feel that we are with him. And if we are not the ones who demand that respect, we draw attention to the supervisory bodies, such as the FPF, the League, the Arbitration Board… Everyone has responsibilities, just see what happens week after week. It is clear what is happening. I am not pointing the finger at the refereeing teams but it is clear,” he said, referring to Henrique Araujo, the Benfica striker who was also punished by the CD this Tuesday.
As the manager explained to BTV what drove Al-Ahmar in Alvalad: “I’m not proud to be fired in two days in a month. But there are times when frustration is impossible to contain. I am addressing Antonio Nobre [4.º árbitro] In a shot where Darwin was going to start and was taken, yellow shot, he said “Open your eyes, Antonio.” I screamed that from the bench and didn’t even come close to the middle of the field. He understood that was grounds for dismissal and I just had to accept the decision. Looking at what you see on the lawns from north to south, I think it was exaggerated, but I respect it.”
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