Sporting pundit: Benfica got lucky in Alverca, soft refereeing | OneFootball

The commentator also made harsh criticisms of the candidates for the presidency of Benfica for attacking Sporting

Carlos Barbosa da Cruz made harsh criticisms of the candidates for the presidency of Benfica for using the Sporting as an 'electoral weapon'. The lawyer also spoke about the refereeing of the Liga Portugal Betclic and says that the eagles were favored by the refereeing in the match they won in Alverca (2-1) in the fourth round.

"The majority of the media and the usual commentators, however, did not give any relevance to the sporting performance, obsessively focusing on a supposed card that was not shown to Gonçalo Inácio, for hitting with his elbow, the opponent's neck, in an attempt to protect the ball", he began to write, in the Record newspaper, adding that "regardless of considering it was a normal football contact, I will not get into this issue, as there will always be controversial cards".

Next, the current leader of the Stromp Group considered that the lions are a "target": "The point is another: since it won the championship, Sporting and its President have become the target to beat; it is comforting for the ego, but inconvenient for the intelligence".

"The Benfica, in its electoral strategy, aimed its batteries against the national refereeing, in a formulation that implies a double idea: if Benfica does not win the fault is of the refereeing, which, in turn, protects Sporting when it wins", he shot next, before bringing the final of the Portugal Cup back into the conversation.

"This rationale explains the hysteria that went around the Cup final (the idea of refusing the Luz stadium for the Selection, is one of the most outlandish I remember) and things as bizarre as Benfica having had a benevolent refereeing in Alverca and the new director for football having come public to make a violent tirade against it", underlined Carlos Barbosa da Cruz.

Finally, the lawyer leaves a warning to the Alvalade Club, still due to the pressure of the eternal rival: "The incumbents of Benfica know that it is crucial to be ahead in the league on election day and the pursuit of Sporting is part of that menu".

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