Benfica security chief fined over Porto fans row: “I’d bite ears off…” | OneFootball

Paulo Magalhães, Benfica’s head of security, was fined 570 euros following a verbal altercation with FC Porto fans during last Sunday’s derby, won 3-1 by the Dragons. The Disciplinary Board deemed the Benfica official’s reaction to the insults coming from the stands inappropriate, in an incident marked by the phrase: “I’d gnaw your ears off.”

Paulo Magalhães’s case unfolded in the tunnel leading to the pitch, close to the end of the match. The League delegate’s report describes a tense verbal exchange and repeated instructions for Benfica’s head of security to leave the area, framing the conduct as a “failure to observe other duties.”

According to the report, the official linked to the visiting team entered the tunnel in the 87th minute and then responded after being insulted by several Porto supporters. The intervention only ended after the League delegate asked him to stop the behavior and leave.

“In the 87th minute, sports official Paulo Magalhães, associated with the visiting club, entered the tunnel leading to the pitch. There, after several FC Porto supporters directed expressions such as ‘son of a b…’ and ‘c…ing pig’ at him, the said sports official replied, saying ‘for you, it’s with my hands behind my back’ and, addressing one of the supporters, ‘I’d gnaw your ears off,’” the League delegate noted. “The League Delegate requested that the sports official cease the aforementioned behavior and leave the area. After several requests, he complied, leaving the area and returning to the dressing room zone in the 92nd minute.”

The fine reflects the disciplinary assessment that, despite the insults he received, Paulo Magalhães’s response went beyond the duties associated with his role. The report also highlights that he only left the area after several requests.

The derby produced another episode under disciplinary review. On Benfica’s side, an investigation was opened to determine what happened with assistant coach Ricardo Rocha at the moment he was sent off following a spat with Rui Correia, the Dragons’ team manager.

According to the Disciplinary Board, clarification is still being awaited regarding what happened by the touchline. Unlike the case of Paulo Magalhães, which has already been sanctioned, this second incident remains unresolved.

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