LISBON, Portugal (AP) 鈥� Jose Mourinho is set to miss Benfica鈥檚 next two games as punishment for his with a Porto assistant coach in last Sunday鈥檚 contentious 鈥淥 Cl谩ssico.”
The Portuguese soccer federation鈥檚 disciplinary council issued two decisions that effectively ban the 63-year-old Benfica manager from the team’s next two matches.
Mourinho was handed a one-match ban for his red card late in Sunday’s 2-2 draw. He received it for leaving his technical area and kicking a ball toward Porto鈥檚 substitutes鈥� bench in celebration of a goal. Mourinho said he had tried to kick it into the stands.
Mourinho, , also received an 11-day suspension for his exchange with Porto assistant coach Lucho Gonzalez.
The one-game ban takes effect for Benfica’s game Saturday at Arouca. The 11-day suspension would rule him out of the March 21 match against Vitoria. Portuguese media noted that the punishments cannot be served concurrently.
Benfica said it will appeal Thursday night’s rulings. It called Mourinho鈥檚 punishment 鈥渦nfair and unjustified.鈥�
The disciplinary council noted that Mourinho sparked the clash with Gonzalez by making a gesture with his index finger and thumb and repeatedly saying 鈥測ou are small.鈥� Gonzalez responded by calling Mourinho, who coached Porto to the Champions League title in 2004, 鈥渁 traitor.鈥�
Gonzalez received a one-game ban and an eight-day suspension.
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
