Belenenses vs Benfica abandoned with Covid-hit hosts reduced to SIX players while trailing 7-0

here were farcical scenes in Portuguese football on Saturday night as leaders Benfica hit seven goals past lowly, Covid-hit Belenenses, who were forced to start the match with only nine players - including a goalkeeper in an outfield role.

The Primeira Liga encounter was eventually abandoned early in the second half after Belenenses - trailing 7-0 - were only able to field seven players following the interval and quickly lost goalkeeper Joao Monteiro to injury, dropping them below the minimum number needed to continue.

Following a positive test in the Belenenses squad earlier in the week, a total of 17 cases were reported to have been recorded among players and staff.

The Belenenses players released a joint statement ahead of the match, which read: “Football only has heart if it is competitive. Football only has heart if it is really sporting.

“Football only has heart when it is an example of public health. Today, football lost its heart.”

Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva watched on and tweeted in disbelief: “What is this? Am I the only one who doesn’t understand why the game hasn’t been postponed?”

Meanwhile, Benfica president Rui Costa said the club had been “forced” to play the game.

“We did not like to enter the pitch under these conditions,” he said. “Benfica was forced to do it like Belenenses. I regret what happened today, a dark chapter for Portuguese football and for the country itself.”

Belenenses counterpart Rui Pedro Soares said: “In the middle of the afternoon we communicated to the Liga that we didn’t want to play the game.

“We had eight players who could attend the game and as such they told us that if we didn’t attend the game it would be unjustified absence. Playing here today was a shame for all of us.”

Sporting Lisbon - who currently sit third and two points behind leaders Benfica in the table - said the incident represented another dark episode in Portuguese football.

“What made this situation possible must deserve a deep reflection by all those who defend the sporting truth and must deserve national attention at the highest level,” Sporting said in a statement.

“It is already receiving international attention and marking yet another dark episode in Portuguese football...”

Additional reporting by the Press Association and Reuters.