Duarte Gomes analyzes Casa Pia-Benfica arbitration

Positive arbitration

Cláudio Pereira traveled to Rio Maior, where he managed Casa Pia AC / SL Benfica.

In the video arbitration room, in Oeiras, there was Rui Oliveira from Porto.

In this game, only twelve fouls were reported, a remarkable number that will certainly be close to the record at this level. But despite the courage in the broad interpretation of the various contacts, the truth is that the Aveiro referee did not sanction as he should have some infractions that should have been punished. The desire to “let play”, contributing to the quality of the show, is noble and even commendable, but it cannot and should never be greater than the role of a referee, which is to enforce the laws of the game. This balance is not always easy, it is up to whoever arbitrates this superlative capacity.

Below is a technical analysis of the most relevant moves of the match:

6′ Varela, with the ball on the ground, raised his left hand, hitting Marcos Leonardo’s face in a (to say the least) reckless way. The referee didn’t notice and it would have been difficult for him to do so in that circumstance, but the infraction remained unmarked.

9′ Ball shot by Rafa, touched Zolotic’s left elbow after a previous rebound. The Bosnian defender had his arms in a natural position and did nothing to infringe. Legal and well analyzed bid in the Casa Pia AC area.

16′ Bad decision by Cláudio Pereira, unnecessarily contradicting the very correct indication of his assistant referee: Di Maria brought down Nuno Moreira, tactically preventing (unsportsmanlike foul) his speeding exit. A free kick was awarded and the Argentine striker was shown a yellow card.

18′ Goal well disallowed against Benfica and it is important to detail why: the fact that Ricardo Baptista intentionally touched the ball is not considered, by law, as a deliberate pass (that is, it does not cancel João Neves’ offside). It is read as “defense”, then counting the previous moment, that is, Otamendi’s initial shot. Then it was clear that the red midfielder, who scored, was in fact ahead of schedule. Correct decision. Important note: when he jumped with António Silva, the Casa Pia goalkeeper touched the opponent (elbow to the head) before playing the ball, but this was due to the movement/impulse that both made to compete for the shot. There was no reckless or negligent infringement by either of them.

45′ Florentino was justly shown the first yellow card of the match after an illegal tackle on Nuno Moreira. The red midfielder stepped on his opponent’s right foot in a notoriously negligent manner.

45+1′ Di Maria again fell into the temptation of an easy takedown, it seems clear that he did so to make the referee point out an infraction that didn’t exist: the red forward, after moving the ball too far forward, brought his left foot into contact with his leg Telasco’s right, simulating possible penalty. Should have seen the yellow card for the unsportsmanlike conduct.

55′ Tchamba hit Di Maria, with a blow above the left knee. The Argentine, this time, “was right” in his complaints. The Cameroonian’s infraction was clearly negligent and should have been punished with a yellow card.

64′ Telasco disarmed Rafa Silva close to his area, but without committing an infraction on the red forward. The referee did well.

65′ Aursnes grabbed the ball unnecessarily, running the risk of seeing his team sanctioned with a totally avoidable penalty kick. The truth is that no image clarified anything 100%. In this case, it is fair to accept the arbitration team’s decision as good.

74′ Benfica’s goal, scored by Arthur Cabral, following a legal play led down the right aisle.

77′ António Silva’s negligent approach earned him a yellow card: the red center-back entered the ball too impetuously, first touching the ball and then (with the sole of his boot) Rúben Lameiras’ right foot. Undisputed decision by the Aveiro referee.

Rating – 6