Mauro Xavier says some supporters shame Benfica and urges tougher action | OneFootball

Mauro Xavier has called for tougher action against a minority of Benfica supporters after the club were sanctioned, according to Glorioso 1904. He said some fans are shaming the club.

Benfica must play one match behind closed doors and pay a €150,000 fine imposed by the Autoridade para a Prevenção e o Combate à Violência no Desporto, APCVD. The Court of Appeal confirmed the decision on Thursday, exhausting all avenues of appeal for the Luz side.

Posting on social media, the manager and well-known member said such behaviour has already stopped supporters from backing Benfica in European competitions and has cost the club more than €1 million in recent years.

He argued that penalties exist but are not applied to the true culprits, urging the board to recognise the problem and solve it. He added that there are sufficient means to identify those who hide in the crowd while embarrassing Benfica.

Xavier said this conduct is not Benfica and called on the Rui Costa-led hierarchy to act more firmly by identifying and removing those responsible. He stressed a small group cannot go on harming the majority who follow the team regularly.

Source: Glorioso 1904