UEFA Throw Out Benfica's Complaint Against Valverde Ahead of Champions League Second Leg
UEFA have dismissed Benfica's disciplinary complaint against Real Madrid's Fede Valverde over an alleged violent conduct incident in the first leg.
Benfica tried to get Fede Valverde banned before the second leg — UEFA weren’t having any of it.
What happened?
Cast your mind back to last Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first leg between Real Madrid and Benfica. In the 83rd minute, an incident involving Valverde and Swedish left-back Samuel Dahl caught the eye — or rather, it didn’t catch the referee’s eye, nor the VAR’s. No foul given, nothing.
Benfica, understandably a bit narked about it, decided to take matters into their own hands and filed a formal disciplinary complaint with UEFA, claiming the Uruguayan midfielder had been violent towards Dahl and that it was, in their words, a clear red card situation that went completely unpunished on the night.
Benfica’s argument
The Lisbon club’s case rested on the match footage. Their position was pretty straightforward:
- The incident was caught on camera
- It constituted violent conduct
- The referee missed it, and VAR didn’t intervene
- UEFA’s disciplinary committee had the power — and the evidence — to act retrospectively
They were banking on the UEFA Disciplinary Committee stepping in before the return leg, essentially hoping Valverde would be ruled out of the second match.
UEFA’s verdict
Not a chance. UEFA reviewed the complaint and threw it straight in the bin. Benfica confirmed they’d been informed of the decision, and the Portuguese club made no secret of their frustration, saying they “regret that, given the clear evidence in the images,” UEFA chose not to take any disciplinary action.
Valverde is free to play in the second leg. Job done, from Madrid’s perspective.
The bigger picture
Look, this sort of thing happens in football all the time — one club spots something in the footage, has a go at getting a rival’s key player suspended, and more often than not it doesn’t come off. Benfica had a punt at it, fair enough, but UEFA clearly didn’t see enough to warrant retrospective punishment.
For Real Madrid, it’s brilliant news. Valverde has been one of their most important players this season — the sort of engine-room presence you really don’t want missing in a knockout tie. Getting him back fit and available for the second leg without any disciplinary cloud hanging over him is exactly what Carlo Ancelotti would’ve wanted.
Benfica, meanwhile, will have to find another way to stop him. Good luck with that.