Portuguese football in crisis: Santa Clara loses to Sporting

Santa Clara lost to Sporting in the Portuguese Cup. What happened in the 90th minute of the game is unbelievable. The VAR analysis took 12 minutes!

What happened?

The game between Santa Clara and Sporting was marked by a big controversy. In the 90th minute, a normal play inside Santa Clara's area turned into a VAR analysis that took 12 minutes.

Why is this important?

This situation is an example of the worrying path that Portuguese football has been following. The lack of coherence and the use of external forces to justify or excuse the actions of those in charge are some of the evils of Portuguese football.

What comes next?

Santa Clara is 13th in the Primeira Liga, with 36 points, and is 52 points behind leader FC Porto. Santa Clara's last match was a 1-0 loss to FC Porto, on May 16, 2026.