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Luciano Gonçalves, president of the Conselho de Arbitragem, admitted on RTP that referee Cláudio Pereira could have explained Jhon Durán’s controversial expulsion better. The forward was sent off during a 2-1 victory against Santa Clara for imperceptible words, sparking demands from benfiquistas for his immediate despenalization.
Potential Suspension Threatens Starting XI for Upcoming Fixtures
- Squad Availability: Pending the outcome of the Conselho de Disciplina inquiry, Jhon Durán faces a potential suspension that threatens his starting XI certainty for upcoming league fixtures.
The Controversy Behind the Santa Clara Fixture
The incident unfolded during the closing stages of the fixture against Santa Clara, a match that ended in a 2-1 triumph for Benfica. Jhon Durán received his marching orders from referee Cláudio Pereira over remarks that were later classified on the match sheet as imperceptible words. Supporters of the Lisbon club immediately contested the decision, arguing that the forward displayed no unsportsmanlike attitude worthy of a red card.
The backlash put severe pressure on league officials to justify the dismissal. The central debate hinges on the exact threshold required for verbal dissent when audio captures fail to register the player’s vocabulary. As public scrutiny mounted over the weekend, leadership within the refereeing apparatus stepped forward to address the growing controversy on national television.
Luciano Gonçalves Addresses the Referee’s Report
Appearing on the Grande Entrevista program on RTP, Luciano Gonçalves broke down the mechanics of the controversial decision. The president of the Conselho de Arbitragem explained the official interpretation from the pitch. According to the leadership, the referee stood a significant distance away and could not pick up the specific phrasing used by the player.
Instead, the official reaction targeted the overall demeanor. Gonçalves stated that the referee intended to penalize an attitude that, in the estimation of the officiating crew, stirred up anger among opposing players and triggered the ensuing confrontation on the pitch. Yet, the governing body stopped short of a total defense of the paperwork submitted after the final whistle.
Gonçalves conceded that he wished the official had articulated the sequence more clearly. In his assessment, Cláudio Pereira could have explained the entire action with greater precision. The current phrasing lacked the clarity required to stave off widespread debate across the domestic football scene.
| Fixture Detail | Recorded Fact |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Santa Clara |
| Result | 2-1 Triumph |
| Sanction | Red Card (Jhon Durán) |
| Reasoning Cited | Imperceptible words / Provoking player reactions |
Next Steps in the Disciplinary Process
The administrative fallout now rests with the Conselho de Disciplina. The disciplinary body has formally opened proceedings against Jhon Durán, freezing any immediate resolution until all parties present their testimonies. Officials will summon the referee to provide a thorough verbal breakdown of the incident.
This hearing aims to bridge the gap between the vague written report and the real-time decisions made on the pitch. Until that formal review concludes, the exact length of any potential sanction remains unresolved, leaving the club’s tactical planning in a holding pattern ahead of the upcoming rounds of the Liga.
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