Marco Silva has cast doubt over whether he can remain at Benfica until the end of the season after voicing frustration with what he described as the culture surrounding refereeing in Portuguese football. The former Fulham manager made the remarks following Benfica’s 3-1 defeat to Porto in Sunday’s O Clássico, a result that left his side five points behind their rivals.
Silva left Fulham in June after five years at Craven Cottage, taking charge of Benfica following the expiry of his contract in west London. During his time with Fulham, he won the Championship in his first season and established the club as a Premier League side, before departing after a 2024-25 campaign in which Fulham finished 11th with a club-record 54 points.
The transition back to Portuguese football has proved difficult in the early months of his Benfica tenure. Silva was angered by the officiating during the defeat at the Estádio do Dragão, particularly after defender Clément Lenglet was sent off 10 minutes before half-time.
Speaking after the match, Silva declined to discuss the red card in detail but raised wider concerns over the pressure placed on referees before and after matches.
> “I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue like this until the end of the season, because I come from a different culture,” Silva said. “Here, unfortunately, you can influence referees before matches, after them and during the week, and sometimes it works. I’m not going to go down that route.”
Silva’s comments appeared to reference remarks made by Porto manager Francesco Farioli before the match. Ahead of the derby, Silva had echoed Farioli’s call for refereeing equality, stating that he expected impartial treatment for both clubs.
The Benfica manager’s frustration reflects the pressure of a difficult start to his tenure, rather than a confirmed intention to resign. Silva has managed only seven league matches since taking charge, and the club now faces a significant challenge to close the gap on Porto.
Benfica’s squad has also undergone changes following the departure of midfielder Florentino Luís, whose permanent move to Burnley was completed in July after an obligation to buy was triggered during his loan spell. Florentino made 33 appearances in all competitions for Burnley during the 2025-26 season.
For Silva, the immediate priority will be restoring Benfica’s form on the pitch. His comments have intensified attention on his early months in Lisbon, but there has been no confirmation that he intends to leave the club.
