Benfica Calls Porto's One-Centimetre Goal a 'Total VAR Shame'

Benfica responded sharply after a goal awarded to FC Porto was confirmed by a margin of one centimetre, according to A Bola. The Portuguese outlet reported the reaction on Saturday, 10 October 2026, publishing Benfica's response under the phrase "total VAR shame."

The club's complaint centres on the video review that let the goal stand, with the decision turning on a single centimetre. A Bola did not publish further details of the incident in the material available.

The episode adds to the long-running debate in Portuguese football over the precision and consistency of video assistant referee decisions, particularly when the margin between onside and offside is measured in fractions of a unit. Benfica's public response signals the club disputes the outcome of the review rather than the result alone.

A Bola's report frames the reaction as a direct criticism of the VAR process, using the club's own wording in its headline. No statement from FC Porto, the league, or the Portuguese referees' body was included in the source material.

What to watch next: whether Benfica files a formal complaint with the league or the referees' council, and whether either body issues a response to the club's criticism.