UEFA rejects Benfica’s complaint against Fede Valverde

This Monday, UEFA dismissed the complaint that Benfica filed against Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde for an attack on the Swede Samuel Dahl during the first leg of the Playoff for access to the round of 16 of the Champions League, so the Uruguayan will be able to play in the second leg on Wednesday, the Portuguese club confirmed.

“UEFA has informed Sport Lisboa e Benfica that the complaint presented by the club in relation to the incident involving Real Madrid player Federico Valverde has been dismissed,” the Lisbon entity reported.

The action occurred in the 83rd minute of the match held at the Estádio da Luz, when Valverde got rid of the Swedish full-back Samuel Dahl with a punch; The referee did not show any card to the Uruguayan footballer.

“Benfica regrets that, given the evidence of the images showing the attack against the Benfica player Samuel Dahl, UEFA has decided not to take disciplinary measures. This is, without a doubt, a situation that deserved a red card, but was not sanctioned during the match, and with this expulsion, it does not deserve further sanction,” Benfica concluded.

The return match at the Santiago Bernabéu will be loaded with controversy. This same Monday, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee provisionally suspended a match against Argentine Gianluca Prestianni, after Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. claimed that the Benfica player had insulted him in a racist manner.

Despite everything, the Portuguese club will travel with Prestianni to Madrid. Former Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, sent off in the first leg for his complaints to the referee, will also not be able to be on the field on Wednesday.