Ex-Benfica candidate slams Sporting: This is a police matter | OneFootball

The former presidential candidate of Benfica, Bruno Costa Carvalho, stated that the controversial incident in the Azores was not a mistake, but something “intentional,” arguing that Portuguese football is living in “Varandistão” and that the situation is already a “police matter,” urging Rui Costa to act firmly and not sarcastically.

“Refereeing mistakes happen in every match. But what we saw in the Azores was not a mistake. It was intentional. We are officially living in Varandistão,” he wrote on social media, suggesting there is a systematic environment of favoritism and bias that has benefited the Lions.

Bruno Costa Carvalho did not stop at criticism and addressed Rui Costa directly, insisting that he must act seriously: “It is necessary for Rui Costa to act accordingly. This cannot be solved with irony and jokes. What is happening is a police matter,” emphasizing the seriousness with which he views the situation.

The idea that the incident in the Azores was not a simple technical error, but something he classifies as intentional, is part of Bruno Costa Carvalho’s broader criticism of the atmosphere that, in his view, has taken hold of Portuguese football in recent months.

It is worth recalling that the Santa Clara - Sporting incident was marked by controversy, both due to doubts about the infraction committed against Morten Hjulmand and the delay in the VAR review, which lasted 12 minutes already in stoppage time, when the Azoreans were leading 2-1. After the penalty was successfully converted, the match went to extra time, where the Lions would reach 3-2, sealing their place in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

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