Mariana Silvério, president of the Portuguese women’s football club Racing Power, pushed the fourth official during a Liga BPI match against Vitória de Guimarães on October 31, 2026, according to official referee reports and club statements. The incident occurred during a 2-1 defeat for Racing Power, as first detailed in sports media reports.

Dispute Over On-Field Assault and Sideline Altercation

The confrontation drew immediate condemnation from the Núcleo de Árbitros de Futebol de Fafe, known as NAFF. In an official statement, the referee association declared that fourth official Cátia Leitão was subjected to physical aggression by the Racing Power president following an ejection from the technical area. The organization described the behavior as entirely unacceptable and urged disciplinary authorities to apply swift, exemplary sanctions to maintain safety and dignity for match officials.

Racing Power acknowledged the physical contact in a public statement released the following day, while offering a different context for the sequence of events. The club stated that a player remained down and in visible distress on the pitch following a challenge, but the officiating crew did not halt play to allow immediate medical assistance. According to the club, the president approached the fourth official to request urgent aid for the injured athlete before being ordered away and subsequently expelled for stepping out of the technical area.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

While the referee association maintained that the confrontation constituted a deliberate assault, the club’s leadership defended the president’s actions. In its defense, Racing Power stated that a physical contact occurred because a member of the officiating team blocked the club president’s path as she attempted to leave the pitch following her dismissal. The club confirmed that a push took place during the exit attempt, yet insisted the episode must be evaluated alongside the earlier failure to stop play for an injured player.

Standings Impact and Match Result

The disputed fixture ended in a 2-1 victory for Vitória de Guimarães. Rieke Dieckmann leveled the score for Racing Power in the 68th minute, but Sam Wiehe converted a penalty kick in the 90+3 minute to secure the win for the hosts. Following the match, Vitória de Guimarães occupied eighth place with four points, sitting just one point behind Racing Power in the league standings.

Disciplinary Review and Next Steps

Football authorities in Portugal are expected to review the official match reports, video recordings, and statements from both clubs and referee associations to determine appropriate disciplinary measures. Legal representatives for Racing Power indicated that the club is preparing its defense to protect its institutional integrity, while referee representatives continue to demand strict protection for all officials.