Arouca faced Benfica in a match that sparked controversy, particularly regarding the refereeing. Mário Branco, Benfica's general director, did not hesitate to go to the referees' dressing room, led by José Bessa, to express his dissatisfaction. He criticized the difference in criteria that he claimed was applied during the match. One of the complaints was regarding the yellow card shown to António Silva, Benfica's captain, which occurred when he approached the referee without having the chance to express his dissatisfaction. This warning resulted in the player's suspension for the upcoming match against V. Guimarães. Additionally, Mário Branco was also unhappy with how the referee handled a situation involving player Dahl, who was pushed away from an Arouca player lying on the ground. Branco's complaints are likely to be recorded in the referee's report, which could have implications for future matches. The game between Arouca and Benfica was not just a contest on the field but also a moment of tension between the teams and the officiating.