Domingos Almeida Lima, vice-president of Benfica, spoke this Thursday on the club’s television, reinforcing criticism around the refereeing.
«The VAR, when it was launched, generated public discussion, but Benfica has always had a very positive position on the introduction of this tool to help in the difficult mission that the referees have. What we weren’t expecting was that the VAR would be an element of aggravation and expose what use it has», the manager began by saying, continuing:
“This year alone, Benfica has three or four very serious situations. In this last game, against Vizela, the lack of quality of the VAR, as well as the assistant referee, was very clear. I find it very strange that you have not seen it.”
Referee Manuel Oliveira ended up being targeted: «He is not someone who has great sympathy for Benfica, he is very connected to FC Porto. Even in this there is a lack of prudence on the part of those who appoint the arbitrators. To err is human, but when people are suspicious, it exacerbates the tranquility of mind that must preside in these situations.”
Like Artur Soares Dias: «In the game with Gil Vicente, the referee had a tic of swagger. When people receive a lot of compliments, they tend to look in the mirror a lot. He looked into the mirror too much and screwed up. There are also games with Moreirense and FC Porto. There is a clear lack of the FC Porto player, exactly close to an assistant, which was also not marked. These are too many mistakes and recognized by experts.”
“The bodies at the top of the arbitration are also very much to blame. Their biggest concern is suing clubs for statements by A, B or C, when often these statements are a wake-up call for things to be fixed. It doesn’t help anything in the pacification of sports competitions», he pointed out, finishing: «What is the use of VAR? It is time to question that, without wanting to wage war.”
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