"What happened is unacceptable. Enough is enough!"

STATEMENTS

Rui Costa, President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, spoke to the media on Sunday evening, November 9, after the match against Casa Pia at Estádio da Luz, a Liga Betclic matchday 11 fixture that was marked by a huge and decisive refereeing mistake against the red team.

"I demand much more from this team, it has the quality to do much better than it did today, regardless of fatigue. But what happened this weekend is another example of how sick Portuguese football is. What happened here today, once again, is unacceptable. Without shirking Benfica's responsibilities, a penalty like this shows a lack of understanding of the rules of the game. More than the referee awarding the penalty, it is highly questionable how VAR did not reverse a situation like this. It is highly questionable because the law is very clear, very clear. Enough is enough! This weekend represents what Portuguese football is becoming. Yesterday [Saturday], a phantom corner... a goal kick turns into a phantom corner that gives a team two points. Today, a penalty against the rules of the game opens up the game for Casa Pia, which has no responsibility in this situation, but reopens the game, which was 2-0", said Rui Costa.

"And I'll say it again, to make it perfectly clear: we don't hide from our responsibilities, and I never allow our team to hide from what is their responsibility. And you have to want more, you have to want much more. But it is unacceptable to award a penalty like this, which reopens the game. Because it's against the rules of the game. It's not a dubious situation. It's against the rules of the game. The rules are very clear on this situation. It's a ball that hits the chest and then goes to the arm. So the rules are very clear. And the referee may misjudge it, but VAR cannot. VAR cannot. And there have been many cases like this, and many cases like this against Benfica. We are going to ask for a clear hearing with those who run Portuguese football, the Refereeing Committee, because what is happening in Portuguese football is too serious. It is far too serious. What we have seen in these two days is far too serious. That's two points for one team and two points taken away from another team. That's how championships are won, in fact. It's too serious, and Benfica will not remain silent in a situation like this. Enough is enough, enough of this!", declared the President.

"What I am saying is very clear. What happened this weekend and what has been happening over time. And this situation is very serious. These are very serious situations. They are not situations for discussion. They are not situations of yes or no. The law is very clear. And it confuses me greatly that the referees have all the training they need to have, that they have all the instructions they need to have from those who manage them, and then they do not comply with the rules of the game in a situation that is crystal clear. And I repeat, to make it really clear: I also ask the team to be responsible, to demand something different. And we didn't play the game we wanted to play. It was a very important day in Benfica's history. Benfica fans deserved to leave here happy, not with the sadness with which they left here today. So, my apologies for that. But enough of this. I'm not here to discuss whether it's a penalty or not, a matter of interpretation. I'm here to discuss the law, once again. It's not the first time I've done so. I'm here to discuss the law, once again. Just like yesterday. These are two very clear-cut cases that give two points to one team and take two points away from another team", concluded Rui Costa.