Bruno Lage pushed back at Sporting’s complaint over alleged insults to the referee in the Super Cup, as the Portuguese Football Federation’s disciplinary body opened a case against the Benfica coach. Lage insisted the accusations are false and said he is not worried, expecting Fábio Veríssimo, the referee involved, to back his version when questioned.
“Posso garantir de forma muito clara que o que consta na queixa é falso,” Lage told reporters, reiterating that he does not anticipate trouble from the disciplinary process now underway by the FPF’s Conselho de Disciplina. He added that he is confident Veríssimo will confirm his account when confronted with the allegations.
Lage explained why he had delayed addressing the controversy publicly, saying: “Imagine discussing a national issue with French journalists. These are game-day contingencies.” He spoke ahead of Benfica’s league meeting with Estrela da Amadora, the second round of the season, after the club’s 1-0 win over Sporting in the Super Cup.
Benfica’s leadership has defended the coach. The club branded the allegations as “ridiculous,” noting that it had taken a while to frame a response and criticizing Sporting for trying to turn the defeat into a de facto victory “behind the scenes.” Sporting has argued for consistency in how the CD applies sanctions, citing past suspensions for players’ words.
Beyond the disciplinary case, the club’s profile remained high. Brand Finance’s annual club valuation ranked Benfica as the most valuable Portuguese team, placing it 27th worldwide with an estimated value of 189.5 million euros. Sporting was 28th (184.8 million euros) and FC Porto 29th (179.9 million euros).
In other Benfica news, young forward Noah Schjelderup received praise from Lage, who said the player is “a kid with enormous qualities” and not for sale despite interest from Italian clubs.
On the horizon, Lage indicated he would not get ahead of next week’s schedule, prioritizing domestic matters before a potential Champions League tie with Fenerbahçe. He joked about discussing other topics in Istanbul, noting that negotiations over Akturkoglu and provocations from José Mourinho are heating up the atmosphere around the club.
A closer look at the week ahead suggests Benfica will aim to build on recent momentum, with a focus on maintaining the team’s form from the Super Cup win and continuing strong performances in the league and potentially Europe.
Bottom line: The dispute over alleged referee insults has opened a formal disciplinary process, but Lage remains confident, while Benfica looks to translate the early-season momentum into continued success.
Summary: A disciplinary case over alleged referee insults follows Benfica’s Super Cup win, with Lage defending himself, Benfica backing him, and the club leveraging its high valuation and rising star talent as it eyes the next challenges, including domestic league action and upcoming European fixtures.