Benfica issued a statement days after reports began circulating that they had revealed their starting eleven for the Georgia=Portugal match at Euro 2024.
Benfica has issued a statement defending Antonio Silva, who was accused earlier this week by commentator Pedro Sousa of revealing the national team’s starting eleven before the Georgia=Portugal match, a Euro 2024 game in which the Benfica player was a starter.
Benfica believes that a campaign has been mounted in recent days to target the 22-year-old player and questions why the matter came to light = strangely (or perhaps strategically?), it reads = before the announcement of the squad for the 2026 World Cup, in which Antonio Silva was not included.
In a statement released three days after the announcement of the players called up for the World Cup, Benfica also questions whether it was a “coincidence” that the defender was not included in the list.
Antonio Silva is an exceptional human being and a professional of excellence, as well as being one of SL Benfica’s main assets, one of our team captains and, proudly, a ‘son’ of this club, so the recurring attacks he is subjected to are totally unacceptable, concludes the statement from the Benfica club.
In a statement released three days after the announcement of the players called up for the World Cup, Benfica also questions whether it was a coincidence that the defender was not included in the list.
Antonio Silva is an exceptional human being and a professional of excellence, as well as being one of SL Benfica’s main assets, one of our team captains and, proudly, a ‘son’ of this club, so the recurring attacks he is subjected to are totally unacceptable, concludes the statement from the Benfica club.
Benfica’s full statement:
Sport Lisboa e Benfica cannot fail to condemn the campaign that, in recent days, has sought to target our player António Silva, due to an alleged incident at Euro 2024, two years ago.
More than confirming or denying, it is important to note how, strangely (or perhaps strategically?), the topic was raised on the eve of the announcement of the squad for the 2026 World Cup, in which António Silva’s name would not appear, surely by coincidence.
António Silva is an exceptional human being and a professional of excellence, as well as being one of SL Benfica’s main assets, one of our team captains and, proudly, a son of this club, so the recurring attacks he is subjected to are totally unacceptable.