Luis Filipe Vieira, who will stand trial in the Lexa case, wants to prove in court that offering Benfica match tickets, including to referees and politicians, was a common practice followed by the four major national football clubs.
This is one of the arguments of the former Benfica president’s defense when challenging the charges in the Lex case. In a document sent to the Supreme Court, to which CM had access, Vieira states that “despite the fact that it was common knowledge that at least Sporting and Porto invited figures from the fields of politics, public administration and justice, only Benfica felt that its presidential tribune was being closely monitored.”
And to prove their case, Vieira’s defense is asking the court to force the clubs to include in the trial a list of those present in the presidential stands at all games played at the municipal stadiums of José de Alvalade, Dragao and Braga between January 2014 and December 2017.
The ministry’s indictment alleges that the former Benfica leader forged a relationship with former magistrate Rui Rangel in 2016 to try to settle a tax case pending in the Sintra court over tax issues. The indictment says the magistrate took advantage of Luis Filipe Vieira’s request for help to benefit from additional perks linked to Benfica, namely tickets to the presidential box and trips abroad to see the team.
Author: Deborah Carvalho
Source: CM Jornal
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