Manteigas condemns reprimand for referee in Mário Branco case after Famalicão v Benfica | OneFootball

João Diogo Manteigas has condemned the Disciplinary Council’s decision to issue only a reprimand to referee Gustavo Correia over inaccuracies concerning Mário Branco after Famalicão v Benfica.

According to Glorioso 1904, the council found Correia’s report did not reflect events. CCTV showed Benfica’s director-general did not try to approach the officials at full time of the 32nd round Liga Portugal fixture, which finished level.

Despite that conclusion, the Porto-based referee received only a formal reprimand, a sanction that has triggered strong criticism.

In his match report, Correia had alleged that Branco insulted the officials and was stopped from getting closer by stewards and police, an account later contradicted during the disciplinary process.

Posting on LinkedIn, the former Benfica presidential candidate said the punishment amounted to a light slap on the wrist for lying, adding that the authorities still had not learned how to teach. His comment was quickly shared among Benfica supporters.

The episode has kept the controversy around Famalicão v Benfica alive, with many fans arguing the penalty fell well short of the severity of the facts established by the council.

Source: Glorioso 1904