Octávio Machado after Sporting's win against Académica

Sporting's director of football, Octávio Machado, was in the Alvalade press room at the final whistle on Saturday to reflect on Saturday's win against Académica and a series of errors made by Cosme Machado.

“Things only aren't worse now because we have a really good team and great fans. It really isn't right that the club with the biggest crowds ends up with the fans going home upset after a win. That isn't what football should be. The criteria for fouls, not giving clear penalties and awarding a clearly off-side goal... I have never seen a linesman, who rightly ruled out a goal, be pressured by the referee to change his mind. honestly I am not happy to say this, but Cosmo Machado is not fit to referee in the top division and I would not like to see Vítor Pereira name him again for a Sporting match. After everything that is happening around the club, we deserve a bit more care when it comes to picking referees", said the Alvalade director, adding a word on the sending off of Jorge Jesus: "When Adrien was shown a yellow card, which was after a foul that should have been a sending off, Jorge Jesus asked the fourth official if the referee had two whistle twice to restart play. Nothing happened for him to be sent off and I would like to know why he was."