Article by Maria Olteanu – published Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 15:16 / Updated Tuesday, May 27, 2025 15:17
Benfica has refused to host the matches of the national team of Portugal and risks a sanction from 1 to 3 months with Estádio da Luz closed, writes the press in Portugal. The refusal is allowed according to the disciplinary regulation of the local federation, but not without a series of sanctions.
The Portuguese club has published a statement protesting against the arbitration of the Portugal Cup final against Sporting Lisbon, who won the match with 3-1. Club officials are dissatisfied with several decisions, including a phase in which Matheus reasted Andrea Belotti, falling to the ground, according to Sportal.bg.
Benfica doesn't want to leave Portugal national on her stadium
“We inform the Portuguese Football Federation that, until the Fair-play restoration in internal competitions, Benfica will not host the national team matches at the club stadium. We insist that next season will take place in full transparency. This has not happened this season. Club officials.
Estadio Da Luz, Lisbon / Photo: Imago
“This is a way to convey a warning. We do not close the gates of the national team, our players will continue to play for it, but we consider that we deserve more respect from the football institutions in the country.
We need to interact with these institutions. We were very precise in our statements. I showed the reluctance, at this moment, in this context, to host the national team. We will wait until there are certain changes. We, the people from Benfica, have courage, I do not know if the other parties have, “said Nuno Catarino, vice president of the Benficăi Board.
In addition to refusing to host the national matches on “Da Luz”, Benfica announced that it will file a complaint against the referee of the Cup final, Luis Godinho, and the referee Var, Tiago Martins.
The “vultures” will also file a complaint against Sporting, Matheus Reis and Maxi Araujo players, for aggression on Andrea Belotti.
Benfica also requested the immediate publication of the audio recordings between the referee and the lime, as well as the related notes. A complaint will be submitted to FIFA, UEFA and IFAB, and a public position will be requested from the new arbitration council. Benfica has also decided to suspend its participation in the working groups that discuss the centralization of TV rights, as well as to request an emergency meeting with the representatives of the Government.
