Benfica outraged by one-match behind-closed-doors punishment | OneFootball

Benfica has been ordered to play one match behind closed doors and to pay a fine of 150 thousand euros, following a decision by the Authority for the Prevention and Combating of Violence in Sport (APCVD), confirmed this Thursday by the Court of Appeal. With the ruling now made public, the Eagles have exhausted all avenues of appeal.

Late in the afternoon, the Lisbon club responded through an official statement, in which it regrets the decision and considers the sanction excessive. In the note released, the Eagles recall that the case is related to the use of pyrotechnic devices by supporters in five matches played during the 2022/23 season.

"Sport Lisboa e Benfica has been notified of the final decision of the Authority for the Prevention and Combating of Violence in Sport (APCVD), which orders one official match to be played behind closed doors at its stadium. At issue is the use of pyrotechnic devices by supporters in five matches played in the 2022/23 season", the statement says.

The club adds that it has exhausted "all legally available means of appeal", always maintaining that it implemented "all reasonably required measures" to prevent this type of incident, arguments which, it says, were not accepted by either the APCVD or the courts.

In the same note, Benfica criticizes the impact of the decision, considering that the sanction ultimately punishes supporters who follow the rules: "As a result of this decision, thousands of members and supporters will be deprived of supporting the team, penalizing a club that did everything to prevent the facts that gave rise to this case."

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