Feathers were certainly ruffled. Benfica came out swinging with a strong response this week. They aimed directly at their rivals, Sporting, after a disciplinary complaint landed on the desk of the FPF Disciplinary Council.
The core of Sporting’s complaint? It was all about foul language. Specifically, words reportedly used by Benfica coach Bruno Lage during the Super Cup’s stoppage time. Benfica’s official statement, shared widely on social media, called the whole situation “ridiculous, at the very least.”
The club expressed disbelief that it took an entire week for Sporting to “invent a pretext.” They believe this was a petty attempt to turn a loss on the field into a win on paper. Benfica feels Sporting is trying to achieve a “pseudo-office victory” after failing to win the trophy.
Benfica went further in their statement. They pointed out that such an outburst is common. These kinds of comments are often heard in broadcasts and on football pitches around the world. The club argued that these words do not hold the deep meaning some might give them. They suggested that those who complained are using “generous imagination and bad faith” to make an issue out of nothing. It was described as a “mean-spirited” act.
The Eagles, as Benfica are known, made a firm promise. They will stand by their coach and all club professionals. They see this as a type of attack. Benfica views it as the kind of move made by those who look for wins away from the pitch. This happens when they cannot achieve success on the field of play.