The match between Benfica and Auckland City in the 2025 Club World Cup witnessed a strange and unusual incident, when the Portuguese club’s player, Orkun Cocu, quarreled with coach Bruno Lage.
Benfica was leading 2-0 in what appeared to be a very easy match, when Lage decided to substitute Cocu and bring on Renato Sanches in the 61st minute.
Cocu was furious at his coach’s decision, waving his hands angrily as he left the field, which greatly angered Lage.
Following the example of Hassan Shehata and Mido in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Sanches scored Benfica’s third goal just seconds after coming on. Lage then went to the bench and mocked Cocu.
🤬 | Séquence incroyable ! Explication musclée entre Orkun Kökçü, mécontent de sortir, et son entraîneur Bruno Lage ! 😮⚡
Suivez la rencontre @SLBenfica 🆚 @AucklandCity_FC gratuitement ici : https://t.co/kAQFrmIwIx ! 👈#FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/SJja9CDbjh
— DAZN France (@DAZN_FR) June 20, 2025
The Turkish player became increasingly angry and was forced to leave the bench, lashing out at Laj, who also appeared furious at his team’s star’s behavior.
It is not yet known whether Laj will decide to impose a severe penalty on Cocu, such as banning him from participating with Benfica for the rest of the World Cup, or whether the incident will simply pass unnoticed.
