Mourinho Explodes Over Referee As Benfica Crumbles Late Against Rio Ave

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was visibly furious on Tuesday night after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Rio Ave, accusing referee Sergio Guelho of lacking the authority required to handle the match.

Benfica looked to have secured victory when they finally broke the deadlock in the second half, only for Rio Ave to snatch a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser. The result left Mourinho frustrated, not only with his players’ lapse in concentration but also with what he described as questionable refereeing decisions.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss highlighted a disallowed first-half goal as a turning point in the contest. “We scored a goal. If this is the new football, where goals are cancelled because a small toe steps on another small toe, then I don’t like this new football. But that’s the way it is, so we have to accept it,” Mourinho told reporters.

Although Benfica eventually found the net, Mourinho admitted that conceding late was unacceptable. “We kept trying and finally got the goal, but we conceded at a time when we simply couldn’t. It’s tremendously unfair and an awful result for us. It was the game Rio Ave wanted and the referee allowed it,” he said.

Directing his anger at referee Guelho, Mourinho concluded bluntly: “He has no personality.”