The European giant on the verge of extinction, Benfica risks exclusion from all competitions

Portuguese club Benfica could disappear from Portuguese and European football for a period ranging from 6 months to 3 years, depending on the suspension that local justice may impose on them.

At least this is the request of the Public Prosecutor for the legendary club from Lisbon, which risks being punished for corruption and tax fraud in a trial that in Portugal is called "the e-mail case".

The charges relate to the club's former president, Luis Filipe Vieira, who is being investigated for several crimes after he hatched a plan aimed at gaining advantages through control of other clubs, which would have made it easier to get into matches. between them.

The plan in question, yet to be proven, dates back to the sports seasons between 2016 and 2019. Among the clubs involved is Vitoria Setubal, accused of passive corruption. In serious financial difficulties, Vitoria would have benefited from market operations, including loans and transfers, in exchange for the poor performances of some players when they played against Benfica.

At least this is what the Judicial Police is trying to prove beyond any reasonable doubt. The Public Prosecutor also requested the ban, again in case of conviction, for former president Luis Filipe Vieira and Paulo Gonçalves, Fernando Oliveira, Vítor Valente and Paulo Grencho.

The Benfica club has also reacted to the accusations, saying that its lawyers will analyze in detail the charge announced today, which makes the club responsible for the alleged acts attributed to the former president and a former adviser.

"A procedural position will be taken in due course, but there is no doubt that Benfica will defend itself, without hesitation, against all baseless accusations (as far as it is possible to analyze, they are baseless), as well as against any the other thing that may infringe our rights and interests", says the Portuguese club.

Benfica's current president, Manuel Rui Costa, is not accused of anything. According to the Public Prosecutor, then Vice President, Rusi Costa was not aware of the events that took place in the club.