Vítor Pinto on derby ref: “Picking Veríssimo took some aim” | OneFootball

The appointment of Fábio Veríssimo to referee the classic match between Futebol Clube do Porto and Sport Lisboa e Benfica has once again placed national refereeing at the center of public debate. Journalist Vítor Pinto, from the newspaper Record, criticized the decision of the Refereeing Council, arguing that the controversy goes beyond merely legal issues and is primarily related to institutional prudence and risk management.

Vítor Pinto distinguished different situations: in the so-called "referee's locker room case," there is already a verdict, although there is an appeal pending with the Sports Arbitration Court. In his view, it would not be wise to suspend a referee for months just because there is an appeal when there is already a first-instance decision.

On the other hand, the disciplinary process presented by FC Porto against Fábio Veríssimo assumes another level of seriousness. According to the journalist, the accusations – alleged threats, intimidation, and persecutory behavior – are being evaluated by the Disciplinary Council. Pinto emphasized that the timing of the complaint's submission does not legally affect the analysis of the merits, as long as legal deadlines are met.

The journalist warned that the process cannot remain unresolved: either the facts are confirmed and the referee is sanctioned, or the club should answer for a possible false accusation. The existence of listed witnesses, including League delegates, underscores the need for a rigorous and swift investigation.

Vítor Pinto also highlighted the formal independence between the bodies of the Portuguese Football Federation, denying direct interference between the Refereeing Council and the Disciplinary Council. However, he warned of the evident risk of appointing, for a highly publicized game, a referee who is subject to a serious disciplinary process and who, days later, could face an unfavorable decision – a situation that would undermine the system's credibility.

Pointing out alternatives, Pinto stressed that Portugal has several international referees qualified to officiate a classic of this magnitude – such as Luís Godinho, António Nobre, Miguel Nogueira, David Silva, or Cláudio Pereira – and questioned why a referee with a serious ongoing disciplinary process was chosen.

In summary, for Vítor Pinto, the controversy does not stem from an objective violation of the regulations, but rather from an institutional decision that challenges the prudence and sensitivity of the Refereeing Council. In a clash with strong symbolic significance like FC Porto–Benfica, the choice of referee should aim to reduce risks and controversies, something that, in his opinion, was not ensured.

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