Did Benfica Football Club rig several matches in the Portuguese Championship? This is what justice will try to discover in the coming months.
This case is just beginning and may take several months to resolve. Since Tuesday, the Portuguese judicial system has officially suspected Benfica Lisbon of match-fixing.
Mainly according to local media In PulaThe Portuguese premier club reportedly granted financial benefits to Vitoria de Setubal, located slightly south of Lisbon, between 2016 and 2019. On the other hand, Benfica would have found the task easier than usual in these confrontations.
Very surprising claims when we look at the latest results between the two teams: between 2016 and 2020, the year in which Setubal returned to the second division, the title favorites often brushed the feathers of this opponent: 7 wins for Benfica, 6 draws and 1 defeat in 14 matches.
Benfica are ready to defend and are taking big risks
In any case, the Public Prosecution was notified. No natural person was named, but two “sports companies” were convicted of “aggravated active and passive corruption, accompanied by unsportsmanlike conduct.” Benfica does not risk anything other than the complete suspension of its participation in sporting competitions.
Contacted, the Lisbon club responded briefly to A Bola. He added: “There is no doubt that Sport Lisbon and Benfica will defend themselves without hesitation against all baseless accusations, as well as against anything that affects or may be affected by their rights and interests.”
