LISBON, Portugal – Benfica manager José Mourinho has been suspended for one match and fined over €5,300 following his expulsion during Sunday’s fiery 2-2 draw against FC Porto, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) Disciplinary Council announced Thursday. The ban stems from Mourinho’s actions after Benfica’s equalizing goal and the subsequent altercation with Porto assistant coach Luis Gonzalez.
The suspension will be served in two phases. Mourinho will miss Benfica’s upcoming match against Arouca on Saturday, and will also be unable to attend the match against Vitória de Guimarães due to the additional 11-day ban. The FPF levied two penalties totaling €5,355 against the veteran manager.
Referee João Pinheiro’s report detailed that Mourinho “deliberately left the technical area to act provocatively, running towards the opposing team’s bench and kicked a ball towards the stands, creating a conflict between the benches.” The delegate’s report corroborated this account, stating Mourinho kicked the ball “at low height, between the referee team’s bench and an additional bench,” triggering a reaction from the Porto staff.
The Disciplinary Council, after reviewing the evidence, upheld the referee’s decision, stating that audiovisual footage and publicly accessible images supported the reports. They concluded there was “no evidence of lousy faith” and reaffirmed the principle of the referee’s authority on the field.
The incident escalated further as the two managers entered the tunnel at halftime. According to the FPF delegate’s report, Mourinho repeatedly told Gonzalez “you’re tiny,” while making a gesture with his index finger and thumb. Gonzalez reportedly responded by calling Mourinho “a traitor,” leading to a physical altercation that required intervention from several individuals to diffuse.
This isn’t the first instance of tension between Mourinho and Porto. The exchange highlights a complex history, as Mourinho previously managed the club, leading them to Champions League glory in 2004. He later moved to Chelsea, and has since managed several other high-profile clubs, including Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. The accusation of being a “traitor” clearly struck a nerve with the 63-year-old manager, who passionately defended his professional journey.
Mourinho, speaking after the match, questioned Gonzalez’s reasoning, asking, “A traitor to what? I went to FC Porto, I gave my soul to FC Porto, I went to Chelsea, I went to Inter, to Real Madrid, I went around the world and gave 24 hours of my life every day. That’s called professionalism.” He also pointedly asked if Gonzalez’s own move to Marseille from Porto in 2009 constituted a betrayal of his former club.
The incident occurred during a crucial stage of the Primeira Liga season. Sunday’s draw left Benfica in third place, seven points behind league leaders FC Porto. With 27 points still up for grabs, Mourinho acknowledged the difficulty of closing the gap, but remained optimistic. “I consider recovering seven points to be challenging,” he said.
The suspension adds another layer of complexity to Benfica’s title aspirations. Mourinho’s absence on the touchline will undoubtedly be felt, particularly in the upcoming match against Arouca. The team will need to rally and demonstrate their ability to perform without their manager’s direct guidance.
The Portuguese football landscape is known for its passionate fanbase and intense rivalries, and the clash between Benfica and Porto is arguably the most heated of them all. This latest incident serves as a reminder of the high stakes and emotional intensity that characterize the beautiful game, and the sometimes-volatile interactions between those at the very top of the sport.
Benfica will face Arouca on Saturday without their manager, hoping to secure a victory and keep their title hopes alive. The team will then prepare for the match against Vitória de Guimarães, where Mourinho will still be absent due to the extended portion of his suspension. Fans will be keenly watching to see how Benfica responds to this setback and whether they can overcome the challenge of playing without their influential manager.
