Benfica Faces Potential Suspension Over Corruption Allegations

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Translation

Benfica, a renowned football club, is facing allegations of corruption. These accusations are connected to the former president, Luís Filipe Vieira, and involve potential match-fixing between 2016 and 2019. Other clubs, such as Sporting and FC Porto, are closely monitoring the situation. The current president, Rui Costa, is cooperating with the investigation.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: Who is the current president of Benfica helping with the investigation?

Rui Costa is the current president of Benfica helping with the investigation.

Question 2: What other clubs are mentioned as paying attention to the case?

Sporting and FC Porto are the clubs mentioned as paying attention to the case.

Exercise: Vocabulary

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▌16/10/2024

Portuguese football giant, Benfica, is currently embroiled in controversy, facing allegations of corruption that could lead to suspension from national competitions for a period ranging from six months to three years. These accusations centre around the former club president, Luís Filipe Vieira, who is implicated in what is being termed as the "case of the emails."

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused Benfica's sports management company, known as SAD, along with former legal advisor Paulo Gonçalves, of orchestrating a corrupt scheme intended to manipulate sporting results. This accusation alleges that between 2016 and 2019, Benfica engaged in activities aimed at influencing matches against the Vitória Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as Vitória Setúbal, by engaging in dubious financial dealings and player loans. This was allegedly done to sway results in Benfica’s favour, compromising the integrity of the matches.

According to the case details, these allegations also involve Vitória Setúbal's former president, Fernando Oliveira, and former sports director, Paulo Grencho. The claim is that together with Vieira, they conducted a series of "simulated contracts" to achieve these illicit objectives, undermining the principles of fair competition.

Benfica Faces Potential Suspension Over Corruption Allegations (Illustration)

The current Benfica president, Rui Costa, and former financial administrator, Domingos Soares de Oliveira, have been cleared of wrongdoing and will serve as witnesses in the prosecution. Despite their signatures appearing on some contracts in question, they are not facing charges.

Reaction from rivals has been swift. Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of Benfica's main competitors, has expressed a firm stance on the issue, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of Portuguese sports. The club has announced that it will monitor the proceedings closely and supports rigorous action against any wrongdoing.

FC Porto, another rival, has already taken legal steps by joining the case as an assistant, indicating their interest in seeking a potential compensation depending on the proceedings' outcome.

This investigation, led by the Polícia Judiciária, scrutinizes Benfica's business affairs during the specified period, notably involving player transfers and game performances by opponent teams. The case continues to unfold, capturing the attention of the sporting world as authorities dig deeper into these serious allegations.

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