Mauro Xavier blasts Gustavo Correia, defends Benfica: It was this rot... | OneFootball

Mauro Xavier, a Benfica member and one of the most high-profile figures in the club’s associative life, reacted to the decision that punished referee Gustavo Correia for including false information in the report regarding the conduct of Mário Branco, the Eagles’ general director.

Through social media, Mauro Xavier strongly criticized the referee and called for immediate consequences, including Gustavo Correia’s suspension and the resignation of Luciano Gonçalves, president of the Arbitration Council of the Portuguese Football Federation. In the post, the well-known Benfica member argued that this case had a direct impact on Benfica’s season and demanded a firm response from the competent authorities: "It was this rot that helped keep Benfica out of next season’s Champions League."

"A referee who lies to incriminate a football official is not fit to officiate again in the Portuguese league. Crime cannot continue to pay. Benfica must pursue the immediate suspension of Gustavo Correia and the resignation of Luciano Gonçalves to the fullest extent," he wrote.

Mauro Xavier went even further and argued that Benfica should take the matter to court if Gustavo Correia is appointed again to any match in professional competitions: "If Gustavo Correia is appointed again to a match in professional competitions, any match, the club must take legal action," he said.

In the final part of the message, he called for deep changes in Portuguese refereeing, arguing that the credibility of the competitions is at stake: "The integrity of next season’s league is at stake, and those responsible remain comfortably settled at the City of Football as if nothing were happening. Choose: either refereeing is removed from the FPF’s sphere, or a clean-up is carried out that restores, once and for all, sporting truth in Portugal," he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.