SL Benfica: Rui Costa appointed interim president replacing Luís Filipe Vieira

Under the statutes of SL Benfica (Liga Portugal Bwin), Rui Manuel César Costa, vice-president of the board of directors, has been appointed president replacing Luís Filipe Vieira, who has been temporarily suspended from office, announced the Lisbon club on 09/07/2021.

Luís Filipe Vieira, Benfica's president since 2003 (re-elected in October 2020 by the club's socios with 62.6% of the votes), was arrested by Portuguese police on 07/07/2021. He is suspected of having embezzled several million euros from player transfers to the detriment of the club. After an initial interrogation, the investigating judge decided to place the businessman under house arrest, which led him to temporarily abandon his duties at the head of SL Benfica. The arrest of Luís Filipe Vieira is part of a wider operation dubbed "Red Card" which led to some 40 searches in the Lisbon region (POR) on 07/07/2021.

"I take on this leadership role with the same pride, passion, and commitment as I had when I first wore the shirt of Benfica," said Rui Costa, who trained at the club, where he played 182 matches (scoring 28…