Iturralde González backs Benfica and Mourinho, silences rivals | OneFootball

The analysis of the most controversial cases from the last round of the championship validated the vehement complaints presented by Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Iturralde González, a former Spanish international referee, addressed the decisive play between Gilberto Batista and Vangelis Pavlidis, fully corroborating the indignant interpretation made by José Mourinho at the end of the match played in Moreira de Cónegos.

Regarding the foul in the area during the 14th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic, the expert was unequivocal in his technical assessment of the play: “It's a hit. At no point does Gilberto Batista touch the ball and he places his leg right in front so that Pavlidis cannot pass and trips over him. For me, it's a penalty.”

Regarding Stjepanovic's harsh tackle on Leandro Barreiro, the analyst's opinion suggests a different color for the card shown: “It's more of an orange card than a yellow one. Stjepanovic comes in from behind, unable to play the ball, in a tackle that can be very, very dangerous.”

Still on that foul, the former referee understood the initial decision but admitted another more severe disciplinary outcome for the offender: “I accept the yellow card, but if the referee deemed it a more serious play and sent him off, it cannot be said he was wrong.”

As for the lions' duel against AFS, there was praise for the penalty reversal but severe criticism of the leonine player's conduct: “Ricardo Mangas thinks Ponck is going to touch him and what he does is dive. Very well done by the VAR, but Mangas should have been warned. The yellow card for simulation was missing.”

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