Benfica lacks leadership, comprehends Luís Filipe Vieira, yet he declines candidacy opportunity
Former Benfica President Luís Filipe Vieira Criticizes Rui Costa and Pedro Proença
In a recent interview with NOW, Luís Filipe Vieira, the former president of Benfica, sharply criticized his successor, Rui Costa, and Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
Vieira attacked Rui Costa by describing him as emotionally weak, implying a lack of the necessary mental toughness for leadership. Regarding Pedro Proença, Vieira accused him of incompetence, questioning his professional capability in football administration and refereeing contexts.
However, Vieira did not provide details about the nature of his accusations against Pedro Proença or the context of his attempt to recruit the former referee to deter Nuno Lobo from running for the leadership of the FPF. Similarly, he did not specify the nature of the influence of Benfica that he believes has decreased with the FPF, or the organization he was referring to when discussing the destruction during a four-year period.
Despite these criticisms, Vieira guarantees that Bruno Lage is the coach of Benfica and would not fire him if elected as president. He also denies rumors that he convinced Sérgio Conceição to take over the Benfica team.
Vieira's comments highlight his dissatisfaction with the leadership and professionalism of both Rui Costa and Pedro Proença, focusing on personal and professional failings that impact Benfica and Portuguese football governance. The emotional weakness comment aimed at Rui Costa suggests Vieira views him as unfit to handle pressure, while the incompetence charge toward Proença questions his qualifications and effectiveness.
As of now, Vieira has not made a definitive decision about running for the presidency of Benfica. He needs to gather more information before making a decision about his potential candidacy, which he may announce next week.
Despite the controversies, Vieira believes that Benfica should always be in a position to lead. His criticisms and potential return to the presidency could signal a shift in the power dynamics within Portuguese football governance.
In the spirit of discussing football governance in Europe, one could argue that Rui Costa's emotionally weak leadership, as criticized by Luis Filipe Vieira, might not be ideal for guiding a football powerhouse like Benfica in the highly competitive European-leagues. Furthermore, questioned is the competence of Pedro Proença, with his football administration and refereeing abilities coming under scrutiny, which could potentially impact his effectiveness in managing the European-leagues.
