After the Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee announced a suspension for Benfica head coach José Mourinho, the club quickly responded with an official statement strongly condemning the decision.

Benfica Statement

Benfica firmly and unequivocally rejects the sanction imposed on its head coach, José Mourinho, by the Disciplinary Committee of the Portuguese Football Federation.

This is a clearly unfair, excessive, and persecutory decision that completely disregards what actually occurred at the end of the match. As the coach promptly clarified during the post-match press conference, and as widely circulated images clearly show, the Benfica coach merely kicked the ball into the stands while celebrating. Similar situations have occurred before, and there was absolutely no intention of disrespect or provocation.

Given the available evidence, this punishment—based on a distortion of facts and a disregard for the explanations provided as well as what the footage at the time clearly showed—is difficult to understand. Even more concerning is that it downplays the provocation directed at José Mourinho by Lucho González in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms after a player had been sent off.

Benfica considers this decision to be extremely unfair and unreasonable. The club will therefore file an appeal through the appropriate channels, confident that the truth will ultimately prevail and justice will be served in the proper forum.

The club reiterates its full support for head coach José Mourinho and will continue to defend sporting integrity and respect for professional participants without compromise, despite yet another regrettable decision from the Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee.