Benfica appeal for Mourinho, take aim at Lucho González | OneFootball

Benfica expressed strong opposition to the punishment imposed on José Mourinho by the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation. In an official statement, the Clube da Luz harshly criticized the decision, describing the sanction as "manifestly unfair, disproportionate, and persecutory", in reference to the two punishments handed down to the coach after the classic match against Porto.

The penalty includes a one-match suspension due to Mourinho's expulsion after kicking a ball into the stands at the moment of the equalizer scored by Leandro Barreiro, as well as an additional 11 days of suspension related to the altercation with Lucho González. Benfica believes, however, that the decision does not take into account the context in which the events occurred.

In the statement, the Reds argue that the coach's behavior was misinterpreted. According to the club, Mourinho "merely kicked the ball into the stands in a moment of celebration, as has happened on other occasions, without any intention of disrespect or provocation," something that, according to Benfica, is proven by the widely circulated footage after the match.

The management also criticizes the fact that the punishment ignored the explanations provided and failed to acknowledge the provocations directed at the coach. In the statement, they directly point to Lucho González's attitude, stating that the decision "distorts the context of what happened, ignores the explanations given," and "downplays the provocations by Lucho González towards José Mourinho after the expulsions, in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms."

In light of this situation, Benfica announced that it will appeal the decision through all available legal channels. The club assures that it will fight so that "the truth of the facts is restored and justice is done," while reiterating its full support for José Mourinho and emphasizing that it will continue to defend "in an uncompromising manner, sporting truth and respect for its professionals."

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