Romario Benzar, stunned after Abdallah was pardoned from suspension

Romario Benzar (32 years old), the player injured by Hakim Abdallah in the FC Botoșani – Dinamo match, was dismayed when he heard that the Dinamo player’s sanction was reduced from six stages to just two.

The former football player from Viitorul and FCSB does not understand the decision of the Appeals Commission and is blunt. “In the last stage we play with our guns, we make pants with pockets.”

Romario Benzar, virulent reaction after the Appeal Commission reduced Abdallah’s suspension. “For a week I couldn’t sleep, I was on painkillers and filled the bed with blood”

ProSport: I called you about the decision of the Appeals Commission, how do you comment on it?

Romario Benzar: What decision?

Hakim Abdallah had his suspension reduced following the red card he received after injuring you in the direct match, from six stages, to two rounds…

I swear I didn’t know anything. Unbelievable, you took me by surprise. I’m at the table and now I find out, from you. What can I say? It doesn’t seem normal to me and I really didn’t expect something like this.

Do you think two stages is too small a penalty?

I say that even six stages were too few! Because I suffered a lot and still do. What was he supposed to do to me? To kill me? Isn’t it enough that my head is full of wires, that I wear a helmet and that I bleed after every practice? My wound has not healed even now and these commissions, what are they, that I don’t know how to make such decisions, reduce from six to two! I don’t know what to say, maybe there are interests. It’s too easy to get over something like that, you can’t do what you want and I don’t know the committee that can forgive you because that’s what someone wants. One gives six, another… two, an incomprehensible difference.

“I don’t think Luca Mihai feels too good about this either. Harder things will follow, let’s pray that we stay healthy”

I saw that you are back on the field, maybe this also mattered to the Appeals Commission

But someone called me from Appeal Commission to ask me, to see me? Call me and see if I’m okay, because he hit me. I play because I wanted to make sacrifices for my team, I wanted to help and I tell you and the committee, I play for my signature. The doctors told me that I had a chance, that I was lucky, they told me that it would be good to avoid entering the field. I couldn’t sleep for a week, I was on painkillers and filled the bed with blood. But maybe I should have stopped playing football!

I also asked you the day after the injury if Hakim Abdallah presented his apology. Meanwhile did this happen?

Yes. He texted me and I accepted his apology. But I remain with the cut on the head and he with two stages of suspension. That’s the reality, it’s very easy to get over a serious injury and I think even tougher things will follow. I’m afraid of the last stage. I’m sure neither Luca Mihai is not feeling well about this, I also heard from colleagues that he still has problems and forget that he is not back on the pitch, it is clear that something is not right. But we are in Romania, everyone does what they want, let’s pray that we stay healthy.