FC Porto hit out at refereeing, invoking Benfica: “Desperation” | OneFootball

FC Porto again used the Dragões Diário newsletter on Tuesday morning to criticize the refereeing and other aspects related to the controversy that followed the 2-0 win over Alverca on matchday one of the 2026/27 Primeira Liga.

The team led by Italian coach Francesco Farioli secured the three points through two penalties, converted by André Silva and Gabri Veiga in the 9th and 44th minutes, respectively. Both spot-kicks were awarded by Luís Godinho after alerts from VAR Bruno Esteves, and the club insists the decisions were correct.

“The penalties that Luís Godinho was forced to award at the Estádio do Dragão continue to unsettle some fanatics with a public platform. The analysts from the three sports newspapers considered both incidents correctly judged, but there are still those trying to push the narrative that FC Porto are favored by refereeing decisions. Nothing could be further from the truth,” it reads.

“Just remember that last year Benfica were the team among the ten major leagues that benefited from the most penalties: 26. Sporting come in a respectable sixth place, with 15 penalties awarded in their favor. In light of these facts, pointing the finger at FC Porto after an unblemished win only shows desperation. It is worth keeping some composure, because we are still only on the first matchday,” it adds.

“Luís Godinho once again turned a blind eye to two penalties”

The blue-and-white club had already taken the same stance the previous day, in a statement that said: “Just as happened almost a year ago, at home against Nacional, Luís Godinho once again turned a blind eye to two penalties in FC Porto’s favor. This time, unlike what happened in the fifth round of the 2025/26 Primeira Liga, VAR alerted him on both occasions and the referee from the Évora Football Association had no alternative but to award both penalties.”

In the match against the island side mentioned by the national champions, the game’s only goal came from a penalty converted by Samu Aghehowa, following a foul by João Aurélio on Borja Sainz. At the time, Porto also appealed for a second penalty after an incident involving Samu Aghehowa and Léo Santos, but the referee gave nothing.

The Primeira Liga table at the end of matchday one

Regardless of the controversy, FC Porto got their title defense off to the best possible start. The three points put the Dragons in the leading group alongside Gil Vicente, Arouca and Marítimo, who beat Rio Ave, Vitória SC and Casa Pia, respectively.

Benfica and Sporting, the main contenders in the fight for the trophy, made a less positive start and could do no better than draws against Académico de Viseu and Estrela da Amadora, respectively. The two teams therefore sit just behind the leaders on one point, alongside Sporting de Braga, Moreirense, Famalicão, Estoril, Santa Clara and Nacional.

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