Wed Oct 16 03:14:49 UTC 2024: ## Benfica Under Investigation for Match Fixing, Club Denies Allegations
Lisbon, Portugal – Benfica, one of Portugal’s most successful football clubs, has been accused of match-fixing between 2016 and 2019. The club, which holds 38 league titles and two European Cups, has denied the allegations, calling them “unfounded”.
The public prosecutor’s office has issued an indictment, marking the third corruption case against Benfica in three years. The accusations center around alleged financial advantages granted to rival Vitoria Setubal, potentially influencing the outcome of matches between the two teams.
Benfica’s statement claims the accusations are based on acts “allegedly imputed to its ex-president and a former advisor.” The club insists it will “defend itself, without hesitation, from all unfounded accusations.”
The main defendant in the upcoming trial is expected to be Luis Filipe Vieira, who led the club for 18 years before his arrest in 2021 on charges of breach of trust and fraud.
Last year, Benfica and its executives faced charges of tax fraud, accused of creating a slush fund through false invoices. While the case against current president Rui Costa has been dismissed, he is expected to testify at the trial.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly requested that Benfica be excluded from all sporting competitions, though the specific competitions haven’t been specified.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Benfica is currently third in the domestic league and has secured victories in both of its Champions League matches. The trial date has not yet been announced.
First Piper 