The president of the General Assembly of the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP), Mário Costa, said Monday that he is confident that it will be confirmed that he has not committed “any criminal offense” after the raid on his home.
“Following the news broadcast this Monday in the media, I would like to clarify that in the framework of the ongoing investigations I have provided full collaboration to the competent authorities, having also expressed my total availability to provide any clarifications that are necessary,” starts. referring to the note signed by Mario Costa.
The residence of the President of the General Assembly of the LPFP was one of the places subject to raids carried out this Monday as part of an investigation by the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).
“I also inform that I calmly await the investigations with the certainty and confidence that the truth of the facts will be known, which will reveal that no crime was committed,” concludes the note, sent to the newsrooms.
A judicial source told Lusa on Monday that one of the search sites was the house of Mário Costa, and another a soccer academy in Riba D’Ave, municipality of Famalicão, district of Braga.
Expresso said that Mário Costa was accused by the Public Ministry and added that they were suspected of human trafficking.
In a statement, the SEF confirmed that “an operation was being carried out, in the Greater Porto area, to comply with various search warrants.”
“The SEF cannot, for now, advance any other type of information, since the process is in secret from justice. More details will be released over time. For this morning’s operation, the SEF committed a staff of 50 elements,” it reads. the statement of the SEF.
Bsports, which defines itself as “a high-performance academy”, also confirmed, in a statement, the searches at its Riba d’Ave facilities, clarifying that “within the scope thereof, it provided full collaboration with the competent authorities”. . In addition, he expressed his total availability to provide the clarifications and information that may be required within the framework of the ongoing process.”
“In strict respect for the secrecy of justice existing in the field of the ongoing investigation, Bsports will not, for the moment, make any further comment on this matter,” adds the note, in which the entity says it is “sure and confident in that an investigation will be carried out into the truth of the facts, which will show that no crime was committed by their representatives or collaborators and that only by mistake or slanderous denunciation could the contrary be thought.”
Source: TSF
