João Gabriel criticises Rui Costa over Pedro Proença ties at Benfica | OneFootball

João Gabriel has renewed a fierce critique of Benfica’s leadership, targeting Rui Costa’s closeness to FPF president Pedro Proença.

According to Glorioso 1904, the club’s former communications director set out his case on LinkedIn on Thursday, 19 March.

He recalled the club’s anniversary gala, saying Proença sat in the front row while Rui Costa again demanded respect. Gabriel argued Benfica had given a platform and honour to someone who, in his view, disrespects the club. He called the approach inconsistent and hard to understand, adding that it undermines authority.

Looking back to May 2025, he cited the Taça de Portugal final, claiming a glaring refereeing error skewed the result. He noted Benfica announced disciplinary referrals, demanded VAR audio, threatened to go to international bodies and supposedly froze cooperation on structural matters. It felt like a rupture, he said, but proved empty.

He added that months later, during the election campaign, Rui Costa returned to the same tone. The Benfica chief spoke of evidence, pressed the Refereeing Council and the FPF, decried double standards and repeated the call for respect. Gabriel said nothing changed, with words drowned by electoral euphoria and silence prevailing at Cidade do Futebol.

In conclusion, Gabriel warned that Proença has already taken what he wanted from Rui Costa. He suggested Proença may only re-engage in about three years, when the next FPF campaign nears. Until then, he fears a cycle of table-thumping that leads to a final wreck.

Source: Glorioso 1904