Duarte Gomes resigns as Portugal football arbitration director

Veteran referee Duarte Gomes announced his resignation as the national technical director of arbitration for the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). In an email to referees, the 53‑year‑old said he was stepping down with “deep gratitude” for the short‑term opportunity and praised the professionalism of his colleagues.

Gomes, who held the post since July of last year, highlighted the “learning” he gained and expressed confidence that Portuguese refereeing has the conditions to continue evolving toward its deserved greatness. The resignation was reported both in a news piece and an opinion column discussing the implications for the future of Portuguese football arbitration.