Manteigas rages over Mário Branco case, Famalicão-Benfica: A slap... | OneFootball

The case that marked the draw between Famalicão and Benfica continues to send shockwaves. After the Disciplinary Board gave only a reprimand to referee Gustavo Correia, following the inaccuracies identified in the report on Mário Branco, João Diogo Manteigas did not hide his outrage and strongly criticized the decision.

Through a post on LinkedIn, the former candidate for the presidency of Benfica left a blunt comment on the sanction imposed on the referee. "A light slap on the hands for lying. They still haven’t learned how to teach...", wrote Manteigas, in a reaction that was quickly shared among Benfica fans.

At issue is the ruling released by the Disciplinary Board, which concluded that Gustavo Correia described facts that did not match reality regarding Mário Branco’s behavior at the end of the 32nd round match of Liga Portugal. Video surveillance footage showed that Benfica’s general director did not try to physically approach the refereeing team, contrary to what was stated in the official report.

Despite that conclusion, the Porto referee received only a reprimand, a decision that sparked strong backlash. It should be recalled that, in the match report, Gustavo Correia wrote that Mário Branco insulted the refereeing team and that he had been prevented from approaching by stadium assistants and the police, a version that was ultimately disproved during the disciplinary proceedings.

The episode therefore continues to fuel the controversy surrounding Famalicão - Benfica. The reaction from João Diogo Manteigas has increased the pressure on the disciplinary bodies, at a time when many Benfica fans believe that the punishment given to the referee fell far short of the seriousness of the facts established by the Disciplinary Board.

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