Just in case some of you still think it's not a hand ball, watch the play and you will see that it's the outstretched part of his arm that touches the ball... you can complain all you want about the penalty, A penalty is not a guarantee goal, this one was. Had this not gone in this could have gone either way, and they way Benfica was playing with an extra man I doubt they would be able to get the 3 points...

you all are idiots anyways. Everyone gets calls and some don't. Thats how football has been and will always be. Quit complaining.

Goal was offside, but no handball as there was no hand to ball.

I also agree with the other posters that suggested there should've been some Benfica penalty shots. Coentrao's yellow card was silly.. the Ref had a bad game on both sides of the ball.

I guess it does happen more for the bigger clubs, this is not exclusive to Portugal.

Even Braga, Bryan benefits greatly from the Ref's decision from time to time. It is not right, but many of us have been complaining constructively to UEFA & FIFA for years about the game and the officiating, with no result. I believe they prefer the status quo.

The technical terms for the Reffing issues are Confirmation bias (the tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions), and also the Bandwagon effect (the tendency to do or believe things because many other people do or believe the same. These are related to groupthink and herd behavior. Those are Pre-Cognitive Biases that affect the game and will have us bantering forever.

To be fair it is hard on the match officials when you have 24 (I included the Managers) cheating around them and only 4 sets of eyes watching in real time, with only 1 that can make the major calls.

That is why when I have written letters to the major organizations I have always made suggestions that constructively take the human element out of the decision making process. Have equipment that makes the decision instead of the person with the inevitable bias.

Now you can never take the human out of the decision making process fully, but with the right tools you can remove the majority of the bias.

Now I know this is impractical for your local footie games, but on the world stage in the biggest competitions that is the way it should be. I am tired of watching Euros, or World Cups where cheats are allowed to propser continuously because of the Bandwagon effect and Confirmation bias.

Carlos slb, i think u should stop commenting on this site as u clearly dont know what u saying, and furthermore, it's not the first time. Say thank u to the ref and move on, pls dont give us ur analysis of any games.

Um.. Carlos.. are you mentally able to make a simple post? I mean.. favoured teams aside here, do you understand the rules of football/soccer? I don't think you do. With the ball travelling at the speed it was, I wouldn't call it a handball since Saviola is only trying to shield himself, but he IS offside. (Are you trying to say there are no offsides on a free kick? Must be some new rule made just after that goal). Watch the video in the post (and not some shitty one where you can't see the angle at all). Specifically at 20 seconds in. Come back when you've opened your eyes.

Bryan's right, Saviola was offside and it was a handball. I still don't understand why Martins decided to chip the keeper instead of just smashing the ball into the net. I congratulate Academica for giving us a hard fought match, even though were playing with 10 men.

Porto pretty much won the liga already, but there us still a huge battle for the european spots. My guess is...

Porto
Benfica
Sporting
Braga
Guimaraes

Benfica's goal wasn't a legit goal. Offside+ handball