The Benfica President, Luís Felipe Vieira, has criticised a 'scandalous' performance from the referee following the Portuguese side's defeat by Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Benfica were beaten 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, going out of the competition 3-1 on aggregate, but were reduced to 10 men on Wednesday evening when Maxi Pereira was shown a second yellow card in the first half.
Vieira was outraged by the performance of the referee, Damir Skomina, during both the first leg and the return fixture in London, saying only the officials failed to see a John Terry handball in the area in Lisbon.
"Whether we were there (in Lisbon) or here (in London), we were not allowed to eliminate Chelsea," Vieira told RTP. "Benfica were the better team and deserved to go through, but other factors seriously hindered us. We lacked luck.
"We can't understand how a Slovenian referee was in charge of this match and we will explain our position to the Portuguese Football Federation. I don't know whether the federation is capable of doing anything.
"Surely everyone saw what happened here. It is evident that this is a business and that there was no desire to see Benfica go through. Refereeing has reached a scandalous point."
The Benfica manager, Jorge Jesus, was also unhappy with the performance of Skomina, who issued eight yellow cards in the second leg.
"Well, we've been the better team in both legs – in Lisbon and in London,'' he said. "I am very proud of my men. We played with ten men for the best part of an hour and we were still the better team. We made Chelsea look ordinary.
"We were penalised by the referee tonight, unfortunately, and unjustly I feel, but that's football in the end. We come away as losers but I feel my team gave everything and I am very proud of my players tonight."
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| Benfica president Luís Felipe Vieira blames referee for Chelsea defeat |
Vieira was outraged by the performance of the referee, Damir Skomina, during both the first leg and the return fixture in London, saying only the officials failed to see a John Terry handball in the area in Lisbon.
"Whether we were there (in Lisbon) or here (in London), we were not allowed to eliminate Chelsea," Vieira told RTP. "Benfica were the better team and deserved to go through, but other factors seriously hindered us. We lacked luck.
"We can't understand how a Slovenian referee was in charge of this match and we will explain our position to the Portuguese Football Federation. I don't know whether the federation is capable of doing anything.
"Surely everyone saw what happened here. It is evident that this is a business and that there was no desire to see Benfica go through. Refereeing has reached a scandalous point."
The Benfica manager, Jorge Jesus, was also unhappy with the performance of Skomina, who issued eight yellow cards in the second leg.
"Well, we've been the better team in both legs – in Lisbon and in London,'' he said. "I am very proud of my men. We played with ten men for the best part of an hour and we were still the better team. We made Chelsea look ordinary.
"We were penalised by the referee tonight, unfortunately, and unjustly I feel, but that's football in the end. We come away as losers but I feel my team gave everything and I am very proud of my players tonight."
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