Duarte Gomes backs Portuguese referees: “Justice will prevail in the end” | OneFootball

Duarte Gomes, national technical director of refereeing, publicly commented on the recent controversies involving the Benfica–Casa Pia and FC Porto–SC Braga matches, reaffirming total confidence and pride in the work of Portuguese referees.

When questioned about the reports from Fábio Veríssimo and Gustavo Correia, the director emphasized the importance of truth and responsibility: “What we feel when our referees speak their truth is pride, but also a sense of mission. They are obliged to report everything that happens, both on and off the field. When Fábio, Gustavo, or any other referee writes what they witnessed, we feel they have fulfilled their duty. Then, there are situations that move from the refereeing sphere to the disciplinary one. Justice has its own time and will ensure the truth prevails.”

Regarding the term “jarra,” often used to refer to the sidelining of referees, Duarte Gomes was clear: “We don’t talk about sidelining nor do we show anyone that we are going to do that. The first to know when they will be held accountable are the referees themselves, not the press or the clubs. Anything else you hear is not official.”

The former referee also clarified that the lack of appointments does not always correspond to a sanction, but can instead be a protective measure: performance management often aims to shield the referee from public exposure. An error has professional and family consequences, and referees are held accountable – including at the classification, economic, and self-esteem levels.

Finally, Duarte Gomes emphasized that transparency and a sense of responsibility are essential for the credibility of Portuguese refereeing.

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