BENFICA are under investigation for suspected match-fixing, reports suggest.
According to Portuguese media, that relates to a timeframe between 2016 until 2020 and all of the club’s members from that period and thereafter are allegedly embroiled.
This comes just a year-and-a-half after the Primeira Liga side’s long-time president Luis Filipe Vieira was forced to resign in disgrace.
Vieira was arrested on charges relating to tax evasion, aggravated fraud, forgery and money laundering.
Club legend Rui Costa succeeded him and his appointment was supposed to hail in a new era of transparency.
According to the Daily Mail, however, Benfica’s new president Costa is also allegedly embroiled in the investigation.
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The investigation has stemmed from prosecutors accessing hacked emails.
The club have also reportedly appeared in court once the proceedings became active.
Benfica released the following statement: “Taking into account the news made public today, Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD confirms that it appeared in court on January 3, as well as, among others, the members of the Board of Directors from 2016 to 2020 and who are currently in office.
“Benfica SAD will not comment further as the trial is under legal secrecy.
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“Benfica expresses its total willingness to collaborate with the competent authorities, as has always happened up to now.”
This comes after sensational reports back in 2018 claiming that Benfica offered prostitutes to referees in a bid to gain favour with an ex-Portuguese FA chief.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
