The Sports Arbitration Court (TAD) dismissed Benfica's appeal against the fine of 1,836 euros imposed following a statement targeting referee Fábio Veríssimo, published before the 2025 Super Cup against Sporting. We remember that Benfica made a publication on the social network «The Arbitration College deliberates, by majority, in the sense of dismissing the Claimant's (Benfica) request, acquitting the Defendant (Portuguese Football Federation), and, consequently, in the sense of maintaining the Judgment handed down by the Defendant in the legal order», can be read in the TAD's decision. On the basis of its decision, the TAD maintains that Benfica is not right when it hides itself in freedom of expression and the legality of the arguments it presented, justifying its decision in paragraphs no. 1 of article 77 and no. 1 of article 75 of the Disciplinary Regulations of the Portuguese Football Federation. The aforementioned articles provide that a club incurs a fine when speaking through any means of expression, making a judgment, committing a fact or, even in the form of suspicion, imputing an act that offends the honor, consideration or dignity of the FPF, referees, directors, or others. In addition to maintaining the fine of 1,836 euros, Benfica will also have to pay the costs of the process, set by the TAD at 4,150 euros, plus VAT at the legal rate. TAD suspends punishment applied to the president of Vitória Meanwhile, the TAD also suspended the 75-day punishment applied to the president of Vitória de Guimarães, António Miguel Cardoso, following the statements the director made after the defeat against Benfica (0-3) on November 2, 2025. After the end of the match on the 10th round of the League, António Miguel Cardoso criticized referee João Pinheiro for giving a yellow card to Benfica player Sudakov after a foul on Samu and a red card to Victorian player Fabio Blanco after a foul on Leandro Barreiro. «I no longer have any doubts that the moves carried out by Sudakov and Fabio Blanco, wearing opposite jerseys, would be judged differently, with no reason for discussion. The first would receive an expulsion order, the second would only be penalized with a yellow card. We would have gone with the game tied and with one more player at halftime", highlighted the director. «Thus, in light of the reasons presented, the Arbitration College unanimously decides to decree the precautionary measure of suspension of the execution of the disciplinary sanction of 75 days suspension applied to the applicant», reads the document published on the official TAD website. According to the document, the FPF emphasizes that «offenses against arbitration agents are always subject to a case-by-case, detailed and contextualized assessment», invoking previous TAD rulings and jurisprudence of the Central Administrative Court of the South to defend the punishment. The president of Vitória de Guimarães highlighted that the statements were made under the «protection of freedom of expression», that the punishment would prevent him from performing his role to the full during a period corresponding to ten games of the main football team, without «replacement or compensation afterwards». The Arbitral College recognizes, in the document, that António Miguel Cardoso is, with «serious probability», «holder of the right to which he claims» and that the damages that may result from the application of a 75-day suspension are «serious and irreparable, whether at work level or in terms of performing the functions inherent to the position he holds».