"João Pinheiro's Performance as a Referee: A Deeper Dive Reveals More Incompetence Than Anticipated"
Firing Up the Hot Seat:
Nuno Magalhães, head honcho of Benfica's General Assembly, didn't hold back on Antena 1's 'Grandes Adeptos' show this week. There was no sugarcoating the criticism he dished out towards referee João Pinheiro - he called Pinheiro's performance in Benfica vs Sporting a total flop.
The match, played at the Luz Stadium last Saturday, ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the Portuguese league title hanging in the balance until the final round. Magalhães didn't shy away from placing the blame squarely on Pinheiro's shoulders.
"The Benfica didn't lose due to its own mistakes, but mostly because of Pinheiro's awful performance," Magalhães said, pointing fingers at the referee.
He wasn't impressed with Bruno Lage's starting lineup, but he didn't raise any red flags. Di María, however, left him scratching his head. According to Magalhães, the player seemed a bit off his game, and the Benfica's performance overall suffered as a result.
But the real focus of Magalhães's ire was Pinheiro. He accused the referee of being a poor performer, particularly in handling the match against Sporting. Magalhães referred to a clear incident involving Debast and Otamendi, arguing that it was a penalty that Pinheiro missed - despite having the advantage of the VAR.
"Pinheiro is a worse referee than he thinks and than others think of him," Magalhães declared, going on to accuse Pinheiro of being unduly swayed by Sporting's coach, Hjulmand. According to Magalhães, Pinheiro allowed Hjulmand to dictate the flow of the match, whistling fouls based on Hjulmand's signals and arguments.
Magalhães also took issue with the inconsistent refereeing in the match, accusing Pinheiro of using a broad criterion at the beginning before suddenly changing course and whistling for every minor infraction in the final minutes.
"I can't agree with the criterion, but when it's for both sides and until the end, calm," he concluded.
This harsh criticism comes amidst a highly charged environment following the draw between Benfica and Sporting. Some spectators crossed the line, verbally abusing Pinheiro and other officials, highlighting the intense atmosphere surrounding the match [3][4]. Magalhães's remarks have added fuel to the fire, creating a debate that is sure to continue until the final round of the Portuguese league.
"Nuno Magalhães, in a critique of the refereeing performance, stated that Pinheiro's handling of European-leagues matches, particularly the one between Benfica and Sporting, was questionable. He specifically pointed out a missed penalty call, which he believed was a result of Pinheiro being influenced by Sporting's coach, Hjulmand."
"Despite expressing disappointment with Di María's performance in the Premier-League, Magalhães's main focus remained on the refereeing decisions made by Pinheiro, suggesting that his inconsistent calls affected the outcome of the match."
