André Villas-Boas dismisses Benfica complaint as a waste of time

Speaking on the occasion of the club’s 133th anniversary, Villas-Boas addressed the lingering fallout from the recent FC Porto-Benfica.

Addressing Benfica’s Disciplinary Complaint

The core of the recent administrative dispute centers on a challenge involving Porto forward Samu Omorodon and Benfica Alexander Bah. Benfica subsequently lodged a complaint with the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation, seeking retrospective action.

Villas-Boas rejected the validity of the challenge, stating that the action naturally escaped the judgment of the match officials during the run of play. He suggested that the video assistant referee system likely did not possess the specific angles to review the incident correctly, though he maintained that even a thorough review would not have warranted a red card.

“I think it fits into frustrations, each one looks for the most creative methods to find ways to suspend FC Porto players for other games,” Villas-Boas said. “Evidently, nothing will happen, because these are acts that naturally escape the judgment of the referees in the minute of the game.”

The Porto executive characterized the move as a strategic effort to condition players for future matches, predicting that the filing would ultimately fail to reach any meaningful conclusion.

“This is an attempt to condition players for the future, as a new strategy by Benfica, which will lead nowhere and is a waste of time for the Disciplinary Council,” he added.

Focus Shifts to Domestic and European Fixtures

Despite the off-pitch administrative battles, Villas-Boas emphasized that the club’s internal focus remains fixed on competitive objectives. With the intense scrutiny of the FC Porto-Benfica now behind them, the squad must prepare for upcoming challenges in both the Primeira Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Porto’s immediate domestic schedule includes a difficult away fixture against Marítimo. Villas-Boas stressed the necessity of moving past the FC Porto-Benfica swiftly to maintain momentum in the league standings, noting that nothing has been mathematically decided in the championship race.

“FC Porto will, of course, make its defense and thus follow the path,” Villas-Boas said. “For the rest, nothing, absolute focus on the next games, the next Champions League games, the trip to Marítimo which is difficult, passing the FC Porto-Benfica swiftly to have this focus on what is essential.”

Celebrating 133 Years of History

The remarks came as FC Porto marked its 133th anniversary, a milestone Villas-Boas used to honor the figures who shaped the institution. The club president paid tribute to the organization’s founders, including Monteiro da Costa and Nicolau d’Almeida, alongside former president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.

Villas-Boas highlighted Pinto da Costa’s role in transforming the club into a unique, winning entity on both national and international stages. The anniversary celebrations also served to connect current sporting ambitions with the deep historical ties uniting the club, its members, and the city of Porto.