Portugal refereeing chief Luciano Gonçalves denies match official collusion claims

Denial of referee appointment tampering

Luciano Gonçalves, the president of the Refereeing Council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), issued a formal statement on 19 September 2026 rejecting allegations that he improperly coordinated match official appointments with football clubs or club presidents. The statement responded to Portuguese media reports over preceding days that questioned his professional conduct and integrity. Gonçalves emphasized that throughout his tenure as council president, he never crossed the boundaries of professional relationships with club leadership. He specifically denied ever receiving retainers, accepting financial bonuses or gifts, or having personal expenses, weekend trips, and vacations funded by club officials. He affirmed that he remains available to assist authorities with inquiries while initiating legal proceedings against those making defamatory claims.

I never arranged the appointment of a referee with any president of any club. I never received any retainer from any club. I never accepted, nor was I promised, any award, financial or otherwise, by any club.

Whistleblower report and judicial inquiries

The scrutiny surrounding the refereeing leadership stems from events in late June 2026, when former referee Duarte Gomes resigned unexpectedly from his position as the FPF National Technical Director of Refereeing. Gomes stated at the time that he had received sensitive information raising significant institutional concerns. The allegations suggested that Gonçalves shared advance information regarding upcoming referee appointments and sent a message to a match official ahead of a fixture in the 2025/26 Primeira Liga season. Following the resignation and the emergence of these claims, the Portuguese Football Federation forwarded the documentation to the Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público). A judicial inquiry remains underway, while the federation's Justice Council also initiated internal proceedings.

Refereeing Council plenary and internal solidarity

On the afternoon of 19 September 2026, Gonçalves convened a plenary meeting of the Refereeing Council to review the operational situation and the public allegations. Minutes after the release of his individual statement, the members of the Refereeing Council published a collective communication confirming their complete institutional and personal support for their president. Gonçalves previously served as president of the Portuguese Association of Football Referees (APAF) before his federation appointment. In his communication, he maintained that the allegations were part of an orchestrated campaign designed to undermine his leadership.

The insinuations directed at me are completely false and fueled by an orchestrated campaign with objectives that, I believe, will one day be exposed.

Internal directive on officiating accuracy

The public defense followed an internal letter that Gonçalves sent to Portuguese football referees on 18 September 2026, urging officials to remain united amidst external scrutiny. In the letter, obtained by news agency Lusa, Gonçalves acknowledged that media commentary had generated noise around match officiating at the start of the season. He instructed referees to disregard outside distractions, maintain confidence in the refereeing structure, and focus on practical performance metrics. Gonçalves noted that every season opening offers margin for technical progression and reiterated his full trust in the officiating roster.

The important thing is for us to remain united, learning every day and working to increase the accuracy rate of decisions and do better and better.