Manteigas reacts to Benfica’s proposals: “A lying referee...”

João Diogo Manteigas, one of the defeated candidates in the last elections for the presidency of Benfica, resorted to their social networks, at the beginning of the morning of Monday, to react officially to the proposal presented by the Club of Light to the Portuguese Football Federation to reformulate the arbitration sector.

In this document that the eagles handed over to the federative organ on September 11, the Lisbon emblem proposed the separation between the appointment and evaluation of the judges.

“ The proposals made by the Benfica director to the Portuguese Football Federation on national arbitration are to be welcomed. I have always defended, publicly and in the club’s AG, that Benfica must be ‘the’ active voice in Portuguese football before the problems that arise and in defining its future. We need to discuss management models, the urgent reformulation of competitive frameworks and the evaluation of management in arbitration. Hence having submitted several proposals in recent years such as: 1 – creation of the proper legal regime for the referees, equated with players (Law) and coaches (CTC), 2 – defining the arbitrators' employment bond (following the 2011 report at the request of SEDJ), 3 – reformulating the recruitment, training, career of the arbitrators and their supervision, 4 – creating deontological rules, incompatibilities and impediments, 5 – publishing evaluations of the arbitrators, VAR and observers' reports, 6 – clarifying the arbitrators' appointments, 7 – VAR: more transparency and supervision of their procedures, structures and communications”, can be read in the publication of João Diogo Manteigas on the social network Linkedin, pointing the finger to the referee Gustavo Correia.

“ The direct action of this referee caused sports and financial losses (Casa Pia na Luz and Famalicão) and also accused Benfica leaders, in their report of Famalicão, of trying to coerce him, which proved false. An arbitrator who lies in an official report, questioning the innocence and good name of Benfica's representatives, cannot be supported, chosen and promoted. He must be punished, held accountable and suspended. The credibility of an arbitrator does not change because it is international. Those who lack the truth in Portugal cannot use the badge in European games. And if this arbitration board of the Federation insists on its award, it is up to Benfica to wonder and ask why, exposing the situation to UEFA for proper supervision”, Manteigas continued.

“There are very positive aspects to Benfica’s proposals. I only regret the lack of publicity to the Benfiquists and the Portuguese ", says the lawyer.

Here is the full message:

The proposals made by the Benfica director to the Portuguese Football Federation on national arbitration are to be welcomed. I have always defended, publicly and in the AG’s of the Club, that Benfica should be “the” active voice in Portuguese football before the problems that arise and in defining its future.

We need to discuss management models, the urgent reformulation of competitive frameworks and the evaluation of management in arbitration. Hence having put forward several proposals in recent years such as: 1 – creation of the proper legal regime for referees, assimilated to players (Law) and coaches (CTC), 2 – defining the arbitrators' employment bond (following the 2011 report at the request of SEDJ), 3 – reformulating the recruitment, training, career of arbitrators and their supervision, 4 – creating deontological rules, incompatibilities and impediments, 5 – publishing evaluations of arbitrators, VAR and observer reports, 6 – clarifying arbitrators' nominations, 7 – VAR: more transparency and monitoring of their procedures, structures and communications.

There are very positive aspects to Benfica's proposals from the media. I only regret the lack of publicity for the Benfiquists and the Portuguese. But there is still attention and work to be done. For example: 1 - what is the position of Sport Lisboa and Benfica on the cases involving the Arbitration Council? What is the result of the alleged meetings in the Federation with Benfica representatives? 2. What was Benfica's position on the continuous award of referee Gustavo Correia who at the time (2025-26) had only played 5 games in the 1st League until 7-12-2025 (a total of 13) and this season (2026-27) already takes 5 games from 1st League until 19-09-2026?

The direct action of this referee caused sports and financial losses (Casa Pia na Luz and Famalicão) and also accused Benfica leaders, in their report of Famalicão, of trying to coerce him, which proved false. An arbitrator who lies in an official report, questioning the innocence and good name of Benfica's representatives, cannot be supported, chosen and promoted. He must be punished, held accountable and suspended. 

The credibility of an arbitrator does not change because it is international. Those who lack the truth in Portugal cannot use the badge in European games. And if this Federation arbitration board insists on its award, it is up to Benfica to wonder why, exposing the situation to UEFA for proper supervision. 

Benfica will strengthen if he has his associates at his side properly informed about the strategy, positions and objectives of those who lead him. Only in this way will Benfica protect his enormous associative wealth and what truly unites us: unconditional support for our teams, those that every week enter the field to win and represent our institution”.