It has been revealed that Benfica are presently being investigated for match-fixing from 2016 to 2020 following the examination of emails by prosecutors.
The Portuguese membership have been embroiled in a whole lot of controversies lately, with long-time president Luis Filipe Vieira being pressured to resign in the summertime of 2021.
He was arrested on expenses of tax evasion, aggravated fraud, forgery and cash laundering after a civil lawsuit was filed by lawyer and membership member Jorge Mattamaouros, who adopted by way of along with his promise to drop the costs if Vieira stepped down as president.
Now, he together with each different board member from 2016 to 2020 together with present president Rui Costa, who changed him after serving as vice-president, is now being investigated for fixing matches in that interval.
It has been reported by the Portuguese press that the membership stands accused of benefitting from a number of manipulated outcomes. Such accusations stem from hacked emails accessed and examined by prosecutors, which reportedly recommend that they did so on a number of events.
Benfica have appeared in courtroom and have publicly confirmed the existence of the investigation, however have stated nothing extra on the matter.
“Taking into consideration the information made public, Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD confirms that it appeared in courtroom on January 3, in addition to, amongst others, the members of the Board of Administrators from 2016 to 2020 and who’re presently in workplace,” a press release learn.
“Benfica SAD is not going to remark additional because the trial is underneath authorized secrecy. Benfica expresses its complete willingness to collaborate with the competent authorities, as has at all times occurred to date.”
If discovered responsible of match-fixing, the implications could be appreciable, with Juventus being closely fined, stripped of titles and relegated when struggling such a destiny in 2006.
Benfica received eight trophies between 2016 and 2020, together with three league titles, so at the moment are susceptible to dropping a substantial quantity of accolades.
What’s extra, the people underneath investigation together with Costa given his outstanding position in that interval may very well be charged and given jail sentences.
It is also potential that no sporting sanctions shall be positioned on the membership with fines being issued and solely people being punished by the authorities.