Tension at Benfica: ex-communications chief slams Luisão for ref assault | OneFootball

João Gabriel expressed himself this Saturday, February 21, in a very critical manner regarding the position taken by Luisão after the alleged racism incident involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Jr., during the match between Benfica and Real Madrid at Luz.

The former Benfica communications director begins by analyzing the reaction of the ex-captain, labeling it as senseless: "The first reaction was senseless and hasty, the extensive statement 24 hours later was a clumsy attempt to justify the unjustifiable. To say that 'Benfica is his second skin' implies acting with memory, balance, and a sense of justice. When one lightly crucifies a colleague without irrefutable proof, recklessness and frivolity inevitably become part of the debate," it can be read on the social network 'LinkedIn'.

João Gabriel also recalls an old episode to illustrate Luisão's "inconsistency": "In 2012, in a friendly match, Luisão assaulted a referee. It was in Germany, against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Benfica's professional structure mobilized and, fighting against the evidence of the images, managed to ensure that the punishment applied was symbolic given the severity of the incident. I personally experienced that episode and everything that followed."

The former director drew a parallel between the past and the present: "14 years later, thousands of kilometers away, the same Luisão decides to 'condemn' a colleague who, by chance, wears the skin that Luisão now assumes as his second. The recklessness, frivolity, and partiality of the accusation reveal immaturity and a lack of balance. Luisão learned nothing from what he has experienced, and that says more about him than about what he says or thinks."

Finally, he commented on Luisão's journey within the Club: "He has, and will have, a place in Benfica's history, but he never had exemplary behavior as an athlete. Luís Filipe Vieira always met the demands of the then-captain, who each year rendered the signed contract null and void. Vieira was always increasing salaries and renewing his contracts, even when he was no longer the first choice. It was also the then-president of Benfica who integrated him into the Club's structure when his playing career ended. After Vieira's arrest in 2021, Luisão was perhaps the only player who, in difficult times, ignored Vieira. The lack of gratitude also defines people's character."

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