Porto deny influencing referees and signal legal steps after Benfica cup row | OneFootball

Porto have issued a robust defence of their refereeing stance, rejecting claims of interference after controversy over Fábio Veríssimo’s selection for January’s Taça de Portugal clássico with Benfica.

The club said in a statement that it does not name referees and does not interfere with decisions of the Council of Arbitration. The note followed allegations that Porto pressured the Portuguese Football Federation to withdraw Veríssimo from the tie at Estádio do Dragão.

On 13 January 2026 the club publicly expressed surprise and indignation at Veríssimo’s appointment for that match, deeming the choice hard to justify.

Pending cases involving Porto and the referee made the appointment imprudent and needlessly risky for the competition, the club and the official. The club has pressed for transparency on refereeing and presented itself as the only party to back the temporary suspension of the President of the Council of Arbitration while facts are examined.

It also branded this season’s officiating lamentable, with only the Rio Ave and Arouca matches free of incidents that went against Porto across the first six rounds. The club is assessing events and will take measures it considers legally appropriate to protect its name, reputation and image, while pledging to keep speaking out.

Source: Glorioso 1904

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