Benfica hit back over Duarte Gomes row, demand emergency meeting | OneFootball

Benfica issued a statement following the latest developments involving the refereeing sector in Portugal. The Lisbon club requested an emergency meeting with the Board of the Portuguese Football Federation, led by Pedro Proença, to demand full clarification and guarantees regarding the system’s independence.

In the statement, Benfica expresses concern over the information made public regarding the departure of Duarte Gomes from the refereeing structure. The club considers the situation "extremely serious" and warns of possible external interference that could undermine the credibility of the competitions.

The Eagles’ position comes amid growing tension surrounding the sector, with the club reinforcing its call for total transparency and accountability. "Sport Lisboa e Benfica views with the utmost seriousness the information made public about Duarte Gomes’s departure from refereeing, prompted by interference incompatible with the independence that must govern a sector that is absolutely essential to the credibility of the competitions", the statement reads.

The club also recalls positions recently taken at the General Assembly, stressing that this season will be one of "zero tolerance" regarding matters that call sporting integrity into question. "Sport Lisboa e Benfica will be uncompromising in defending sporting integrity and will demand total transparency, independence and accountability from all those who have a duty to protect the credibility of Portuguese football", it can be read.

The club makes it clear that it will continue to monitor developments and will not rule out further institutional steps if responses deemed satisfactory by the club’s structure are not provided. Benfica will be watching the next steps closely.

Read the Eagles’ full statement:

"Sport Lisboa e Benfica requested, this morning, an emergency meeting with the Board of the Portuguese Football Federation to demand full clarification and guarantees that Portuguese refereeing will not continue to be subject to pressure, constraints or influences that call sporting integrity into question. Sport Lisboa e Benfica views with the utmost seriousness the information made public about Duarte Gomes’s departure from refereeing, prompted by interference incompatible with the independence that must govern a sector that is absolutely essential to the credibility of the competitions. In addition to the repeated warnings throughout the last season, at the latest General Assembly we stated that this would be a season of zero tolerance. We reaffirm it today: Sport Lisboa e Benfica will be uncompromising in defending sporting integrity and will demand total transparency, independence and accountability from all those who have a duty to protect the credibility of Portuguese football", it can be read.

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