Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published on Sunday, 03 May 2026, 08:18 / Updated on Sunday, 03 May 2026 08:20
Benfica managed to take only one point at Famalicao, score 2-2, although they led 2-0. The leader Porto took advantage, 1-0 with Alverca, and was crowned champion with 2 stages left in the current season.
Jose Mourinho's team “stumbled” at Famalicao (2-2), but blames the referee after being tied 2-0. The club publicly expressed its outrage in a two-line post on its official website: “Benfica presents the 'Man of the Match' award to referee Gustavo Correia and his team.”
The guests accused the non-awarding of a penalty with the help of which they could have increased their advantage to 0-3, the elimination of Otamendi (min. 55), the second goal of the hosts, but also an “unacceptable” extension of the match, of 15 minutes, due to the injury of one of the assistant referees.
President Rui Costa: “This referee tried to stop Benfica from playing in the Champions League”
“I just want to express my outrage, and that of all Benfica fans, at what happened here today. I don't think you have to agree with me about all the key actions that took place in this match, which were clearly unacceptable,” thundered Benfica president Rui Costa after the match.
“No one has the right to decide who wins the championship or who qualifies for the Champions League, except the players and coaches on the pitch. What happened here today was exactly that. What the referee did, what this man did here today, was to try to prevent Benfica from reaching the Champions League,” the famous former Portuguese international added.
Rui Costa: “There is no justification!”
Rui Costa believes that the referee failed in all respects: “It was a clear penalty and I think a few words are enough to explain the penalty kick that was not awarded to Benfica in the 30th minute, the score could have become 0-3.
The referee hadn't even seen the first penalty kick because VAR had to step in to award it. A clear penalty that he did not see on the field. There was the phase that led to Famalicão's second goal, which came from a corner that wasn't a corner. There was no corner.
Then we have these final 15 minutes, which are completely inexplicable, even with the referee being replaced after just five minutes. There is no justification for these 15 minutes, which explains unequivocally what this referee came to do today.”
Jose Mourinho, kept by his staff so as not to take the referee
In the end, the coach of Benfica, Jose Mourinho, was hardly kept by his entire staff not to approach the referee. Also, to risk a suspension, Rui Costa asked him not to speak.
❗ José Mourinho e Pedro Bondo picados e staff do Benfica a rodear Gustavo Correia num final quente no Famalicão-Benfica pic.twitter.com/YnQCse5HrD
— Record (@Record_Portugal) May 2, 2026
With two stages before the final whistle of the championship, Benfica remained to dispute the second place, which ensures the presence in the play-off of the Champions League, with Sporting. He is 3 points ahead, but the local rival has a less played match.
