Jose Mourinho’s return to the spotlight took a controversial turn after Benfica’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
The Portuguese manager revealed that his dismissal wasn’t about a specific foul, but rather his protest against “selective officiating.
“Mourinho alleged that the referee was working from a metaphorical “note” to keep Aurelien Tchouaméni, Carreras, and Dean Huijsen out of the book.
All three players were one yellow card away from missing the decisive second leg in Spain.
“We know how these things work,” Mourinho suggested, implying that the official was protecting Madrid’s squad depth for the play-off rematch.