Sporting SAD confirmed this Monday that it had been constituted as an arguida after the raids carried out by the Tax Authority directed at lions, FC Porto and Benfica in the “Operação Penalti”.
In a statement, the leonine SAD also confirms the raids. “We also confirm that Sporting SAD was established as a defendant in the same process, which focuses on various contracts and assignments of soccer players, which occurred in the period between 2015 and 2017,” the note reads.
Sporting SAD “is convinced that the process will not have relevant impacts for the Company, to the extent that its activity, and in particular player transfers and contracts, is audited by the competent authorities, in strict compliance with the law” .
“As has been the practice of the Board of Directors, Sporting SAD will continue to collaborate with the competent authorities, providing all the clarifications and attaching to the process various documentation in its possession, under the principle of collaboration and in favor of clarifying the truth”, ensure .
The Tax Authority is conducting searches at the Estádio do Dragão, Alvalade and Luz as part of a case investigating suspicions of fraud and money laundering worth 58 million euros.
At stake are “suspicions of crimes of qualified tax fraud, social security fraud and money laundering, linked to the celebration or renewal of sports labor contracts, payment of commissions and financial circuits in which intermediaries in these businesses are involved, as well as as use of image rights”. “.
Read the statement in its entirety
“1. Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD confirms searches of its offices by the Tax Authority (AT), within the scope of the process 12/21.01ICLSB.
2. We also confirm that Sporting SAD was established as a defendant in the scope of the same process, which focuses on various contracts and assignments of soccer players, which occurred in the period between 2015 and 2017;
3. Sporting SAD is convinced that the process will not have a significant impact on the Company, since its activity, and in particular player transfers and contracts, is audited by the competent authorities, in strict compliance with the law.
4. As has been the practice of the Board of Directors, Sporting SAD will continue to collaborate with the competent authorities, providing all the clarifications and attaching to the process various documentation in its possession, under the principle of collaboration and in favor of clarifying the truth. . “
Source: TSF
