The Public Prosecution Service (MP) suspects sports corruption in the game that ended with Benfica’s 1-0 win against Moreirense – in the 2017/18 season – which gave the Eagles access to the Champions League, according to TVI/CNN.
At stake is a penalty kick, scored after the foul of Alfa Semedo, from Moreirense, who guaranteed the triumph of the club of the eagles in the match on May 13, 2018 in Estádio da Luz, and the access of the reds to the champions League, to the disadvantage of Sporting.
According to the five-year court case against Benfica, to which TVI/CNN had access, the MP believes that in exchange for the alleged crime of sports corruption, Luz’s club agreed with Moreira de Cónegos’ team to pay 2.5 million euros for 50% of the transfer and sports rights of Alfa Semedo, who made 16 appearances for the Eagles in the following season, before being loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Reading in England.
“There was 43 million euros at stake for whoever reached second place in the championship and reached the Champions League – as FC Porto would be crowned champions – and Lisbon’s two rivals contested the vacancy to the end,” reports TVI /CNN, noting that the MP suspects the penalty kicked after Alfa Semedo’s foul was “bought”.
On 13 May 2018, in the final round, Sporting were out of the Champions League as they lost to Marítimo. Benfica, on the other hand, recorded a victory that secured them second place and access to the Champions League in a game that the prosecution says was rigged.
According to JN, in response to the TVI news, former Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira assured that things with Moreirense had always been “transparent”.
Source: DN
