Bruno Costa Carvalho, candidate defeated by Luís Filipe Vieira, in the elections for the presidency of Benfica, last year 2009, resorted, late this Monday morning, to protest against the (controversial) performance of the refereeing team led by João Gonçalves, the day before, in the 2-2 draw with Sporting de Braga, at the Braga Municipal Stadium.
The businessman considers “absolutely miserable” the decision, not only by the judge of the Porto Football Association, but also by the VAR, Tiago Martins, to cancel a goal by Samuel Dahl, after 74 minutes, due to an alleged foul by Richard Ríos on Vítor Carvalho. However, it didn’t stop there, and he also pointed the finger at “the shame of the post made by Benfica, on Instagram, with the caption ‘Benfica’s winning goal in Braga'”.
“If, on the one hand, the new images completely remove doubts, and it can be seen that the move is completely legal, the caption ruins everything. It’s sad and makes any Benfica fan blush with shame. It’s one thing for Mourinho to be ironic, it’s a different thing for Benfica’s communication to do that. We look like the new Sporting. It’s embarrassing and shows the incredible flaws that Benfica’s communication has in an all too regular way”, he began by writing.
“But Rui Costa also doesn’t learn from his mistakes. His too ‘soft’ stance towards the FPF [Federação Portuguesa de Futebol] and Pedro Proença has given Benfica constant troubles. We are harmed time after time while Sporting is systematically benefiting… And what does Benfica do? Release some communications to people who no one cares about anymore”, he continued.
“I voted for Rui Costa and I demand from my President the true defense of Benfica’s interests. Just yesterday Mourinho clearly made it clear that this defense is amorphous and almost non-existent. Rui Costa only has one way: demand Pedro Proença’s resignation, point the finger at those who are harming us, namely Mr Tiago Martins who did not see the stomp on Benfica’s head [Andrea] Belotti, but he saw a non-existent foul from Richard Rios”, he added.
“Frederico Varandas created a web that allows Sporting to dominate Portuguese football”
Finally, Bruno Costa Carvalho recalled that “Benfica has many weapons in its hand”, among them, “television rights, its social importance and the strength of its fans”, which make it the “largest institution in the country”, which is why he reinforces the appeal made to the club’s top leader, Rui Costa, to take a more ‘muscular’ position.
“Frederico Varandas may have many flaws, but he knows how to defend Sporting and he has had no trouble putting together a web that allows him to dominate Portuguese football. Rui Costa has to rise to the occasion and truly defend Benfica. And the only way to do that is to dismantle this web that systematically harms us. The only question that comes to mind is this: what is Rui Costa waiting for?”, he concluded.
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