Sporting pundit on Veríssimo saga: Referee was influenced deliberately | OneFootball

André Pinotes Batista was incredulous about the controversy surrounding Fábio Veríssimo. The PS deputy vehemently criticizes the fact that Porto tried to influence the referee during the halftime of Porto - Braga and calls for the FPF to take a firm stance on the matter.

“Images selected by a communication department under someone's orders. I want people who downplay this to think about it: someone gave an order, someone sat down to plan this, someone went to the trouble of deliberately influencing the referee,” he began by saying on CMTV.

André Pinotes Batista emphasized the seriousness of the act: “Someone sat down, someone decided, and someone wanted to influence. And there was a referee who had the courage to write it down. Was it the first time? This is unforgivable,” he stated. On the other hand, the commentator also highlighted the firm stance taken by Benfica, which officially reacted through a statement.

“Benfica's management took a position that protects Portuguese football”, said Pinotes Batista, praising the stance of the eagles. In the statement, the eagles called for an “urgent” intervention by the Arbitration Council and the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation, demanding quick responses and concrete measures.

Fábio Veríssimo interpreted the gesture as a form of pressure and intimidation by the team led by André Villas Boas, having recorded the episode in the report. During the first half, the VAR disallowed a goal by Victor Froholdt for a foul by Jan Bednarek on Lukas Hornicek.

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