“ We demand that classification be decided by merit in the field”

O president of Benfica Rui Costa was present, on the night of Friday, at the inauguration of the House of Benfica de Cantanhede, leaving several repairs to what has happened in the arbitrages of the Portuguese championship this season.

In this inaugural speech, Rui Costa asked for “best conditions” for the referees and said that he gave the Portuguese Football Federation a set of proposals to improve the sector, based on four pillars: independence, professionalization, transparency and accountability.

The theme of centralization of television rights also did not pass by Rui Costa. The leader of the eagles considered that, in his opinion, this change will harm not only the competitiveness of Portuguese football, but also Benfica himself.

Here are the full speeches:

“It is with a full soul that I address all of you. The presence of so many Benfiquists and the inauguration of this house are proof of the enormous benficism of the people of Cantanhede. They are also an incentive for us to continue to grow Benfica's home network. We know what it means to live the Benfiquist fervor away from the Stadium of Light; the distance may exist on the map, but it never measures the strength of feeling. This is measured by the intensity with which the club lives, and it is this intensity that we feel here from the first moment.

Benfica's homes are essential to animate, unite and mobilize the Benfica. So I want to thank everyone who contributed to the birth of this house. Let me highlight the current president, Paulo Fresco, the Nuno Gonçalves, Daniel Monteiro, Sérgio Romeo, João Pedro Lopes, Carlos Martins, without forgetting all the other team that worked here and Manuel Rua, which today celebrates 76 years.

These works were carried out by the leaders themselves, in a remarkable work that began in July, and this effort makes this inauguration even more special, showing well the mystique and love of Benfica living in this region. The House of Benfica number 256 is now a reality. On behalf of the club, I leave our thanks. I therefore ask for a round of applause for all who have helped to make the House of Benfica of Cantanhede another great pole of benficism, already with the image of the new symbol. Congratulations and thank you very much.

Faces and dear Benfica, the homes of Benfica are a strategic pillar for the growth and development of Sport Lisboa and Benfica. They allow you to take benficism further, help fill the stands of the Stadium of Light and support our teams from north to south of the country and across borders. These are real club embassies and a reference to the values that define us.

I would therefore like to make a very clear message: the commitment of this direction to the homes of Benfica is firm and permanent, not exhausted at its inauguration. We want to be at your side, support your work and create better conditions for each home to grow and serve the Benfiquists of its region. The houses count and will continue to rely on the imperative support of this direction.

The houses count and will continue to rely on the imperative support of this direction. This may be the most striking time ever for the expansion of our network. We aim to grow, bring up or reactivate 15 homes of Benfica. Four are already in operation: Montalegre, Freamunde, Benguela and Cantanhede. Another three are in the final stages of construction and there are eight other houses in the final stages of approval. It is a remarkable job and a huge challenge that we have ahead of us, but we are convinced that it will be possible. The enthusiasm we have found and the many requests received lead us to believe that we can even overcome that goal.

We want to continue to expand benficism in Portugal and beyond, with special attention to the Lusophone communities. In this sense, in Angola, the conditions for the official inauguration of the houses of Luanda and Benguela are fulfilled. It will be, we are sure, an extraordinary expression of benfiquism and portugality.

Faces and dear Benfiquists, the 4th Congress of the Houses, Branches and Delegations last July demonstrated the importance we attach to these embassies of Benfiquism. At this meeting, the “Stadium Treaty”, whose implementation has already begun, was unanimously approved. We are strengthening support for homes in the areas of sustainability and technology, and promoting training actions for leaders and professionals who drive them. These are concrete measures designed to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. This is the way: working with the houses, listening to them and supporting them. Stronger houses mean a Benfica closer to its partners and supporters in each region and in each community.

In 2027, we marked the 75th anniversary of Benfica's house creation. It is our duty to celebrate this story and honor all Benfiquists who, over decades, have contributed daily to magnifying the club. May this evocation inspire new generations and give even more strength to this work, so that the houses continue to grow together with the club.

Faces and dear Benfiquists, I want to finish these words with two alerts on issues that concern us and for which we will continue to fight in the future. In centralizing television rights, we will do everything we can to defend Benfica's interests, and the signals that come to us give us more and more reason. Centralization, as it is, will cause Portuguese football to lose competitiveness and Benfica is the main loser. So let's fight for our rights to the end.

In football, we praise the path our team has taken and demand that the final classification be decided exclusively by merit in the field. Better conditions are needed for referees and better arbitrage. It was for this purpose and with these concerns that we delivered to the Portuguese Football Federation an extensive and substantive document. It contains several proposals and concrete measures to improve arbitration in Portugal, based on four pillars: independence, professionalization, transparency and accountability. We demand rigour, equity and quality in arbitration.

Faces and dear Benfiquists, the support of our adherents has been tireless and fundamental since the beginning of the season. I am sure that, with the fervor and union of all Benfiquists, we will achieve the goals we all aim for. We're counting on everyone.

Long live the House of Benfica of Cantanhede, today a certain reality! Long live Benfica's Benfikists and houses! Long live our great love, our Sport Lisboa and Benfica! Long live Benfica!"