Benfica’s Champions League hopes took a knock against Famalicao, as did their reputation off the pitch.
The Eagles saw a 2-0 lead written off away in Porto with a late equaliser allowing Sporting the chance to take the second spot in Europe’s top tier back from them.
Record claim that post-match Jose Mourinho was so furious that he clashed with full-back Pedro Bondo in the tunnel.
They claim that ‘the situation required the intervention of the stadium stewards and the police, and was only resolved when members of both teams separated the two groups’.
Benfica match Mourinho’s anger
Benfica also believed they should have had a penalty, and that Nicolas Otamendi was wrongly sent off.
As such, the club’s social media channels again embarrassed themselves this season by presenting their Man of the Match award to the referee.
“Benfica offers the player of the match award to referee Gustavo Correia and the rest of the refereeing team,” they wrote.
Speaking post-match, Mourinho said: “My assessment is that, as we approach the end of the championship, this game says a lot about what this championship has been like.
“I want to congratulate FC Porto for being a worthy champion, I want to congratulate my players for their bravery up to today, especially today.
“And we will give it our all to try for the miracle of finishing in second place and ahead of Sporting. I think we will succeed.”
Benfica’s Rui Costa fumes
President Rui Costa was far less coded in his critique of the officials.
“I want to express my indignation, and that of all Benfica fans, for everything that happened here today,” he said to the media.
“I think it won’t take many words for you to agree with me on all the crucial incidents in this game, which are clearly unacceptable.
“I believe, because I was a player, that nobody has the right to decide who wins championships, who goes to the Champions League, except the players and coaches on the field, and what happened here today was not that.
“Benfica, unfortunately, can no longer be champions, they no longer had the capacity to be champions, but they were here and are here fighting for the Champions League, and what the referee, this gentleman, did here today was try to prevent Benfica from reaching the Champions League.
“There was a very clear penalty, and few words are needed to explain the penalty that wasn’t given to Benfica, which could have made it 3-0.
“The same referee who, in the first leg, gave a penalty against Casa Pia at home that had nothing to do with this one, and which was recognized by everyone as not being a penalty, failed to see this penalty today.
“There is absolutely no justification and it unequivocally explains what this gentleman came here to do today: to try to ensure that Benfica leaves here defeated today.
“There’s no other word to say this: this man came here to harm Benfica.”
He added: “Nobody has the right to decide championships or standings except the players and coaches.
“This man who came here today tried to decide a part of the championship, in this case who goes to the Champions League or not.
“Benfica fans. What happened here today was an attempt to delay us on this path. We reached this position through merit, having recovered the points we had lost to regain second place.
“We got here through our own merit. They wanted to take us out of next year’s competition here today.
“I am absolutely convinced and I guarantee that these players will do everything in their power to ensure that Benfica is in the Champions League next season, even with the events that took place here today.”
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