Barbosa da Cruz: Sporting are Benfica’s main rivals in election campaign | OneFootball

Carlos Barbosa da Cruz dedicated his most recent opinion column to the 'persecution' he believes Sporting is being subjected to, not only since they started winning but also as a 'weapon' in the other electoral campaigns of the candidates for the presidency of Benfica.

"The majority of the media and the usual commentators, however, did not give any importance to the sporting performance, obsessively focusing on an alleged card that was not shown to Gonçalo Inácio, for hitting the opponent's neck with his elbow while trying to protect the ball," he began writing in the newspaper Record, further stating that "regardless of considering it a normal football contact, I will not delve into that issue, as there will always be controversial cards."

Next, the former leader of the Stromp Group considered that the lions are a "target to be taken down": "The point is different: since winning the championship twice in a row, Sporting and its President have become the target to be taken down; it is comforting for the ego, but uncomfortable for the intelligence."

"Benfica, in its electoral strategy, targeted national refereeing, in a formulation that implicitly brings a double idea: if Benfica doesn’t win, the blame is on the refereeing, which, in turn, protects Sporting when they win," he continued, before bringing up the Portuguese Cup final again.

"This rationale explains the hysteria surrounding the Cup final (the idea of refusing the Luz stadium for the National Team is one of the most absurd I can recall) and things as bizarre as Benfica having a lenient refereeing in Alverca and the new football director publicly delivering a violent tirade against it," emphasized Carlos Barbosa da Cruz.

Finally, the lawyer warns the Alvalade Club, still due to the pressure from the eternal rival: "The incumbents of Benfica know that it is crucial to be ahead in the championship on election day and the persecution of Sporting is part of that menu."

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