Villas-Boas slams Varandas, accuses Sporting boss of offensive remarks | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas once again criticized Frederico Varandas. The president of Porto was at Livraria Lello this Tuesday for the ceremony celebrating the 120th anniversary of the venue. Speaking to journalists, he once again addressed the top leader of the green and whites, this after the FPF Disciplinary Council opened disciplinary proceedings against him.

"Offensive statements against the good name of Porto, the credibility of Portuguese football, and an attack on refereeing over decades, and against the most decorated president in world football, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa," said the leader of the Dragons.

It is worth remembering that, at issue, are the statements made by Frederico Varandas after the 4-1 victory over Vitória de Guimarães on December 23, 2025, in a Liga Portugal Betclic match. At the time, the Lions’ leader harshly targeted rivals Benfica and Porto.

“For decades, refereeing was not independent, it had an owner. Porto and Benfica. Decades. With names. Pinto da Costa, Luís Filipe Vieira. I'm 46 years old, you’re from my generation, and we grew up like this,” said Frederico Varandas, in a statement that quickly generated reactions.

In another, more extensive intervention, the Sporting president expanded on his criticism, comparing the current situation with previous eras and rejecting the idea that occasional mistakes undermine contemporary refereeing. “They are international referees, and what do you say? A corner wrongly awarded? A play wrongly called by the best Portuguese referee because he was called to VAR and got it wrong? Is this what undermines refereeing? But do you remember refereeing in the 90s, 2000, 2015, and 2017? And then you talk about an unsustainable level? Are these parachutists who have just arrived?”

According to information gathered by the newspaper Record, the Dragons argue in their complaint that the statements harmed the good name of the organizations that oversee national football and the credibility of its competitions over the past decades, as well as, in particular, Porto and its former president Pinto da Costa. They also accuse him of manipulating history, with serious and unfounded allegations, fueling the current constant distrust regarding those involved in national football.

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