Dhe longtime president of Benfica Lisbon resigned in the wake of a fraud affair with the Portuguese top football club. Luís Filipe Vieira submitted his resignation on Thursday evening, the separation will take place on Friday, the club said. The 72-year-old entrepreneur has been the boss of the most traditional club in Portugal since 2003. He was arrested on Thursday last week on charges of money laundering, tax fraud, forgery and embezzlement.
The Portuguese judiciary is investigating illegal football transactions worth at least 100 million euros as part of the “Operation Red Card”. Among other things, it concerns illegal payments for player transfers. Not only record champions Benfica are involved. According to media reports, the move of the Brazilian national player Éder Militão from FC Porto to the Spanish top club Real Madrid in summer 2019 is also being investigated.
Former Portuguese international Rui Costa took over the management of the club on a temporary basis after Vieira was arrested. The 49-year-old former Benfica and AC Milan midfield director has been sporting director since 2008. Last year he was elected to the board as vice-president. He assured journalists that the club had nothing to do with the allegations against Vieira.
Vieira, who denies the allegations, is currently under house arrest. He is expected to be released soon on payment of a € 3 million bail.
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