Rui Costa Takes Benfica’s TV Rights Concerns to Portuguese Parliament in Meeting With Chega

In a move that highlights the intersection of sports governance and national politics, SL Benfica President Rui Costa visited the Assembly of the Republic on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to address the pressing issue of Portuguese football TV rights centralisation.

Costa’s visit was part of a broader cycle of political meetings aimed at securing political awareness for the challenges facing the club and the wider landscape of Portuguese football. During these discussions, the Benfica leader specifically met with the parliamentary group of Chega, a national conservative and right-wing populist party that currently holds 60 of the 230 seats in the Assembly of the Republic.

The meeting centered on several critical points of contention, most notably the centralization of television rights and the status of Benfica FM. According to reports, Costa emphasized that the club is not merely acting in its own isolation but is “defending our interests and those of Portuguese football.”

The Stakes of Television Rights

For a club of Benfica’s stature, the mechanism by which television rights are negotiated and distributed is a matter of financial survival and competitive edge. The discussions at the Portuguese Parliament suggest a growing tension between the clubs and the current regulatory or centralized frameworks governing these broadcasts.

By engaging with political entities like Chega, Costa is seeking leverage to ensure that the legislative environment supports a model that Benfica deems fair. The need for “political awareness” mentioned by Costa indicates that the resolution to the TV rights deadlock may require more than just negotiations between clubs and leagues—it may require legislative intervention or oversight.

Note for global readers: The Assembly of the Republic is Portugal’s unicameral parliament, where laws are debated and passed. In the context of Portuguese sports, political influence often plays a role in the regulation of professional leagues and their commercial structures.

Understanding the Political Alignment

The choice to meet with Chega is noteworthy given the party’s position on the far-right of the political spectrum. Formed in 2019 by André Ventura, Chega has grown rapidly in popularity by adopting anti-establishment positions and focusing on issues such as criminality and the misuse of taxpayer money.

Although the party’s primary platform revolves around national conservatism and social conservatism, their significant presence in the Assembly makes them a key stakeholder for any organization seeking to influence national policy or gain political visibility in Lisbon.

A President Under Pressure

Rui Costa’s political maneuvering comes at a time of significant volatility for SL Benfica on the pitch. The president has recently been vocal about refereeing decisions and disappointing results that have impacted the club’s trophy ambitions.

The Eagles recently suffered a 1-3 defeat against SC Braga in the semi-finals of the League Cup, a result that eliminated them from the 2025/26 edition of the competition. Following that match, Costa expressed his frustration in the mixed zone of the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, stating, “We left here defeated in a competition we wanted to win… It’s unfortunate, and I’m very sorry about that.”

Beyond the League Cup, Costa has not held back in criticizing officiating. He previously described a refereeing decision in a match against Casa Pia at the Luz as “unacceptable,” asserting that “enough is enough.” He similarly blasted an “inexplicable” decision during a matchday 16 Liga Betclic fixture in Braga, claiming a clean goal was disallowed in an “unbelievable way.”

The Broader Strategy

The combination of political lobbying for TV rights and public criticism of officiating paints a picture of a president fighting a multi-front war. Whether it is the boardroom in the Assembly of the Republic or the mixed zone after a defeat, Costa is positioning himself as the primary defender of Benfica’s interests.

The focus on Benfica FM alongside TV rights suggests that the club is looking to protect its proprietary media assets and communication channels, ensuring it maintains a direct line to its massive global fanbase without undue interference from centralized authorities.

As the debate over Portuguese football TV rights centralisation continues, the outcome of these political meetings could dictate how revenue is shared across the league for years to come. For now, the club remains focused on its immediate competitive goals, including its upcoming fixtures and the ongoing struggle for consistency in the Liga Betclic.

The next major checkpoint for the club will be the continued monitoring of legislative discussions within the Assembly of the Republic regarding sports broadcasting laws.

Do you think football clubs should engage in political lobbying to secure their financial interests? Let us know in the comments below.