Benfica fined 17,850 euros over comments on referee after Santa Clara v Sporting | OneFootball

Benfica have been fined by the Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Council for comments about referee João Pinheiro after Santa Clara v Sporting in the Taça de Portugal. The federation announced that the remarks were unacceptable.

The sanction, set at 17,850 euros, follows criticism of the officiating of the tie in the Azores, with the comments published on 18 December 2025.

A VAR check lasted 12 minutes before confirming a penalty awarded by Pinheiro.

The decision took the match into extra time, where Rui Borges’s side won.

Benfica are led by Rui Costa.

Source: Glorioso 1904