Soares Dias: names most annoying players, singles out Benfica star | OneFootball

Artur Soares Dias named Nicolás Otamendi as one of the most "annoying" players he had to referee during his sporting career. The Portuguese referee was present on SIC's podcast, 'Ontem já era tarde', and reflected on the different challenges he faced in Portuguese football.

"I came across many annoying players. Otávio from FC Porto, for example. Later, in the last match of my career, I encountered him in Saudi Arabia. He saw me in the tunnel and started laughing. I told him right away: 'Today you’re not going to annoy me.' And he replied: 'No, today is your last game, I won’t annoy you,'" Artur Soares Dias began by saying.

The former referee continued, also mentioning some players who are still active in national football, highlighting one Benfica player: "Pote, Bruno Fernandes, and Otamendi are also always around the referee, complaining, trying to put pressure, to 'pester'."

Artur Soares Dias did not forget the captain of Benfica, Nicolás Otamendi – whose presence in the Champions League is at risk – when he had to name the most "annoying" players he refereed. However, the former referee also left some praise for these players, confessing that "they are of high quality."

To conclude, Soares Dias also reflected on his experiences in international football: "Sterling was one of the most difficult to referee because of his speed, and Neymar because he always has the ball glued to his foot and simulates a lot. (...) A player who simulates, and it is proven that he simulated, should get a one-match suspension. Surely, after that, he would take it into account and simulate less often."

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