Benfica Invites 200 Fans to Seixal for Rare Chat with Mourinho

A planned morning training session turned into an improvised town-hall when roughly 200 Benfica supporters walked through the gates of the club’s Seixal training complex on 24 January. They were invited inside instead of being turned away, and what followed was a rare, almost cathartic, face-to-face meeting between fans, head-coach José Mourinho, and the football department led by director-general Mário Branco. By the end of the hour-long exchange, both sides claimed they had renewed a “commitment to unity” for the demanding months ahead.

Quick Takeaways

• 200 fans gained authorised access to Benfica Campus after voicing frustration.

• Mário Branco opened the doors; José Mourinho, four team captains and Simão Sabrosa attended.

• Discussion stayed respectful; injuries and refereeing decisions cited for dip in form.

• Club says the episode closed with a pledge of collective focus until season’s end.

The Scene at Seixal

On an otherwise quiet Friday, red scarves, drums and the unmistakable chants of the Benfiquistas drifted across the Tagus estuary. The group, representing assorted claques and un-affiliated season-ticket holders, had travelled 30 km south of Lisbon to air displeasure over recent league stumbles, a domestic cup exit and January’s lack of signings. Instead of hiding behind locked doors—a move that could have inflamed tempers—Mário Branco personally walked to the gate and invited the delegation into the indoor pitch area. PSP reinforcements remained outside but, unlike past flashpoints in Portuguese football, never had to intervene.

What Sparked the Protest?

Benfica’s form since Christmas has been erratic: a shock defeat in Madeira, an edgy derby draw and elimination from the Taça da Liga. The team sits outside the automatic Champions League places and trails leaders Porto by a handful of points. Supporters complain of recurring muscle injuries to key starters, inconsistent refereeing and, above all, a squad they feel lacks depth. January’s transfer window brought only one academy promotion, prompting critics to accuse the board of “failing to back Mourinho.”

Inside the Conversation

Witnesses describe a circle of chairs at pitch-side where around two dozen representatives of the crowd spoke in turn. José Mourinho, ever the orator, admitted that “results haven’t matched expectations.” He blamed a “staggering” 34 separate injuries, lingering fatigue from a marathon group-stage campaign and “two VAR calls that changed matches.” Club captains Nicolás Otamendi, António Silva, Fredrik Aursnes and Tomás Araújo pledged to “leave skin on the grass” for the badge. Fans, for their part, warned that tolerance has limits but applauded the coach’s willingness to engage.

Managing the Risks

Security analysts later praised the club’s “dialogue first” approach. By opting for controlled inclusion rather than confrontation, Benfica diffused a situation that in other years—and in other stadium car parks—has slid into violence. Experts note that the decision aligned with updated APCVD guidelines recommending early contact with supporter leaders, clear evacuation routes, and back-up PSP units stationed but not visible. The scene contrasted sharply with 2020’s notorious bus attack, an episode still cited in UEFA training modules.

What It Means for the Season

Internally, directors believe the meeting can act as a psychological reboot before February’s fixtures with Braga, Sporting and a daunting Europa League knockout tie. Mourinho reportedly requested—and received—assurances that two reinforcements will arrive before the window closes. In the stands, the mood has shifted from simmering anger to conditional optimism; ticket sales for the next home match against Farense spiked 7 % within 48 hours of the Seixal summit.

The Wider Portuguese Echo

Reactions across the country fell along familiar rival lines. Porto aficionados joked that Benfica had created a “customer-service desk,” while Sporting pundits on SIC argued the episode shows why clubs should invest in formal supporter liaison officers. Former Interior Minister Constança Urbano de Sousa told Rádio Renascença that the peaceful outcome “illustrates how structured fan dialogue can reinforce public safety.”

Lessons Going Forward

For now, Benfica has won breathing space—and perhaps a public-relations victory—without a single baton raised. The episode offers a template other Primeira Liga sides may emulate: treat adeptos as stakeholders, not agitators; provide transparent explanations for on-field dips; and keep security resources ready but unobtrusive. Whether that goodwill survives the next away defeat is another story, yet the Seixal meeting reminded Portuguese football that, handled correctly, the passion that fuels the game can also power its healing.