Mário Branco faces more trouble, Benfica official under scrutiny | OneFootball

Mário Branco was punished with a 20-day suspension for remarks directed at Gustavo Correia, referee of the Benfica – Casa Pia match, at the end of the 11th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. However, the case may not end here, as the general director of the Clube da Luz will also be subject to an urgent disciplinary process.

“Honor the badge you wear on your chest, you're a disgrace! I will take you down along with João Bento, who was the VAR,” said Mário Branco at the end of the Benfica – Casa Pia match to Gustavo Correia. The issue was the penalty awarded for an alleged handball by António Silva.

Besides Mário Branco, Pedro Barreiras, Benfica's physiotherapist, was punished with a one-game suspension and will have to pay a fine of 1,300 euros for “offensive, insulting, or abusive gestures and/or language directed at the referee, which were heard by the fourth official: 'It hit the chest. You have to check VAR! This is a scandal.'”

In response to the incident, Luciano Gonçalves, president of the Refereeing Council, defended Gustavo Correia: “The CA provides them [the referees] with support so they can remain calm. No one takes anyone down here. If the referee is demoted, it will be due to less positive results, because he had a less positive season, and never due to interference from anyone.”

In conclusion, Mário Branco will be banned from accessing the game area in the match against Atlético, for the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup, as Benfica's next commitment for the Liga Portugal Betclic will be on November 29, when they visit Nacional. By then, the punishment of the Eagles' official will have been served.

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