Portugal: several board members & former board members of SL Benfica accused of tax fraud

Benfica SAD, the managing company of SL Benfica (Liga Portugal Bwin), "informs that it has been accused (by the Portuguese justice system) of tax fraud. Members who were part of its board of directors between 2016 and 2020, one of whom is still in office, are also accused of the same offence, as well as of falsifying documents," announced the company on 01/03/2023.

Luis Filipe Vieira, the club's president between 2003 and 2021, Domingo Soares de Oliveira, the current CEO, and Miguel Moreira, the deputy CEO from July 2019 to December 2021, are the main leaders involved in the 'blue bag' (Portuguese equivalent of a 'slush fund', a reserve of money used for illicit purposes) affair, according to the local press. €1.6m was reportedly paid to a company for IT consultancy services which were allegedly fictitious.

"The procedure is ongoing and the rights of the defence will be exercised in due course according to the legal procedure," said the company.

• SL Benfica are top of the Liga Portugal Bwin Portuguese first division (18 clubs), of which the bookmaker Betclic has been the title…