Benfica manager José Mourinho has criticised referee Sergio Guelho following his team’s 1-1 draw with Rio Ave on Tuesday night.
The Portuguese giants looked on course for victory after taking the lead in the second half, but conceded a late equaliser in stoppage time. Mourinho, however, insisted the referee played a decisive role in the result.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss was particularly unhappy with an earlier decision to disallow a Benfica goal when the match was still goalless.
“We scored a goal. If this is the new football, when goals are ruled out because a small toe steps on another small toe, I don’t like this new football,” Mourinho told reporters. “But that’s the way it is, so we have to accept it.
“We kept trying and finally got the goal, but we conceded when we can’t concede a goal. It’s tremendously unfair and an awful result for us. It was the game Rio Ave wanted and which the referee allowed.”
Mourinho went further in his criticism of referee Guelho, bluntly declaring: “He has no personality.”
The draw leaves Benfica frustrated as they continue their push for dominance in the Portuguese top flight.
