António Figueiredo slams Benfica fans’ protest, fears the worst | OneFootball

António Figueiredo, former vice-president of Benfica, commented on the protest by around 200 fans in Seixal, which took place on the eve of the match against Estrela da Amadora. The former official emphasized that, although he understands their frustration, he pointed out that the timing chosen for the protest could have a negative impact on the team.

“It shouldn’t have happened on the eve of a game. The players’ reactions are always unpredictable. They are not all the same or have the same mindset, so what can be motivating for some can be destabilizing for others,” he said to the newspaper 'Record', highlighting the need to protect the athletes’ focus and stability.

“I understand the indignation and discontent of some fans,” he said, recalling the context of a difficult season and recent elections at the Club, which helped fuel the tension between fans and the management led by Rui Costa. Even so, he praised the way Benfica handled the incident.

“The situation was well managed and the officials acted correctly by not ignoring the fans,” he highlighted, noting that the orderly dialogue between the parties avoided confrontations and maintained order at the facilities. Finally, António Figueiredo stresses that, despite the episode, it is necessary to focus on results.

“These gentlemen are not from Benfica or, if they are, they are from a different Benfica than mine. From now on, every game is a final, so these protests don’t help at all. I hope that something positive comes out of all this and that the upcoming results will show it,” he concluded.

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