Benfica SAD confirmed that it was constituted as a defendant in the ‘Offside’ process, which focuses on suspicions of fraud and money laundering in relation to player contracts and transfers, amounting to 58 million euros.
“Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD confirms that (…) it was established as an arguida within the framework of a process that is in secret from the justice system,” read the statement published on the Lisbon club’s website.
The entity stressed that “it expressed its total availability and openness to collaborate with the competent authorities as has always been the case up to now.”
Sporting SAD has also confirmed that it has been established as a defendant in the process, which focuses on various contracts and assignments of footballers, which occurred in the period between 2015 and 2017.
More than 60 raids on Wednesday targeted Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting, as well as law firms and accountants and various residences, in an operation focused on suspicions of fraud and money laundering amounting to 58 million euros.
According to a note released by the Central Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP), the proceedings are being carried out in the areas of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro and Setúbal, and are investigating events that occurred between 2014 and 2022, on which “there are indications of illegitimate patrimonial, fiscal and social security advantages, for a global amount of more than 58 million euros”.
In the investigations that gave rise to this operation, “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 are involved in these businesses”. , as well as the use of image rights”.
The steps have the participation of approximately 250 elements, including inspectors from the Tax Authority (AT), soldiers from the National Republican Guard (GNR), prosecutors from the Public Ministry, judges and representatives of the Bar Association.
Under the direction of the DCIAP, the investigation also involves the Large Taxpayers Unit and the Directorate of Fraud Investigation Services and Special Actions of the AT, as well as the Tax Action Unit of the GNR.
The raids had already been confirmed to the Portuguese by official sources from Benfica and Sporting, who assured that the two clubs collaborated with the authorities. For its part, FC Porto also issued a statement in which it confirms that searches are being carried out at its facilities and ensures that it is prepared to “make available all the elements” that are requested.
The operation was carried out by Correio da Manhã, which reported on searches related to the investigation of an alleged fraud scheme related to soccer player transfers.
Correio da Manhã associates these searches with the ‘Offside’ operation, which has been going on for several years and has dozens of defendants, in a process that was triggered by documents accessed by Rui Pinto, the main defendant in the ‘Football Leaks’ case. .
Source: TSF
