Off-the-Game tax operation leads to searches at FC Porto, Sporting and Benfica – Sports

Searches are underway at Estádio do Dragão, at the SAD of Futebol Clube do Porto and at the home of Alexandre Pinto da Costa, football agent and son of the president of Futebol Clube do Porto. There will also be searches at Estádio da Luz and Alvalade, as confirmed by press releases from the clubs, as well as at the home of several players, according to Correio da Manhã.

Meanwhile, Futebol Clube do Porto confirmed the searches and states that it is “collaborating with justice and providing all the elements requested”. Benfica and Sporting also confirmed the searches to the Lusa agency, which cites official sources from the two Lisbon clubs, and guarantee that they collaborated with the authorities in the searches of the facilities.

The searches are being carried out by the Tax Authority, accompanied by the GNR, as part of an inquiry by the Public Ministry of the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP). The DCIAP confirmed, however, that more than 60 searches are underway, covering the facilities of the three clubs mentioned, to which are added lawyer and accounting offices, as well as several residences. The steps take place in the areas of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro and Setúbal.

“Inquiries investigate suspected crimes of qualified tax fraud, fraud against social security and money laundering, linked to the conclusion or renewal of sports employment contracts, payment of commissions and financial circuits involving intermediaries in these businesses, as well as the use of image rights”, it can be read.

The investigation covers the period from 2014 to 2022, with a “strong international dimension”, with “evidence of illegitimate property, tax and social security advantages, in the global amount of more than 58 million euros”, reveals the Public Prosecutor’s Office .

“About 250 elements participate in the proceedings, tax and customs inspectors and military personnel from the National Republican Guard, in addition to public prosecutors, judicial magistrates, and representatives of the Bar Association are also present”, it is also indicated. The inquiry is still kept secret from justice.

A source from DCIAP tells Negócios that despite the fact that the title of the operation “Out of Game” is not named in the communiqué, the diligences will be part of that investigation.

What is known so far?

At stake is the “Out of Game” operation that has been running for more than three years. The searches in the context of investigating crimes related to professional football deals, namely simulated between football clubs and third parties, originated from information released by “hacker” Rui Pinto, in the “Football Leaks” case.

On March 4, the date of the start of the investigations, 47 defendants were constituted, 24 legal persons and 23 natural persons, “among which football players, agents or intermediaries, lawyers and sports leaders”, reads in the DCIAP document published the date. The first part of the operation, in 2020, included 86 searches of various football clubs, respective companies and law firms.

“The investigation investigates professional football deals, carried out from the year 2015, and which will have involved actions aimed at avoiding the payment of tax installments due to the Portuguese State, through the concealment or alteration of values ​​and other acts inherent to these deals with a reflection in the determination of the same installments”, explained another statement.

In 2021, in the second phase of searches, the Public Ministry had constituted five more defendants, three natural persons and two legal persons, and it is not possible to specify the current number of defendants.

(Updated at 1:30 pm with statement from DCIAP)