Vieira outraged by Benfica member's threat to expel him when he considers running for office

Former Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira reacted this Wednesday to the disciplinary investigation opened by the club, which could lead to his expulsion as a member.

Vieira, who was at the helm of the club for almost twenty years, expressed his indignation and accused the current board of directors of using this process to cover up recent sporting failures. In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, Luís Filipe Vieira stated that he will not allow his name to be used as a “scapegoat” to justify what he considers to be “sporting failures, losses of assets and credibility” during the current term. He also recalled that his achievements while serving the club are “indisputable and unforgettable”.

The disciplinary process was announced by Benfica in June and dates back to events at the General Assembly of September 27, 2019, almost five years ago. According to the minutes of that meeting, Vieira allegedly grabbed a member by the neck who criticized him. Although the incident is old, it is being used as grounds for a possible expulsion.

Luís Filipe Vieira, in the statement, expressed his disbelief and indignation, recalling “more than 20 years of work and achievements, unavoidable and unforgettable, in favor of Sport Lisboa e Benfica”, accusing the current management of avoiding responsibility and using his name to divert attention from the accumulated internal problems.

“I will not allow my name to be used as an expiatory argument for successive sporting failures and losses of assets and credibility, which are the distinction that this Board, at the end of its term, has to display”, he stated.

Vieira also highlighted the work carried out during his term in office, which ran from 2003 to 2021, during which Benfica won several titles and restored financial and institutional stability. “Together with a competent and cohesive team, I restored financial, institutional and sporting respectability to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. These attributes are once again in doubt, particularly with processes like this one.”

The former president considers the inquiry to be “unfair” and “illegal”, as it refers to events that are more than five years old and that had never been the subject of any investigation. “Everyone will understand that this process is a real escape from progress! An escape from responsibility, from scrutiny of mismanagement and from an informed debate about the future of Sport Lisboa e Benfica”.

Luís Filipe Vieira also questioned the current Board about the transparency of the process, the legal grounds involved and respect for the club's statutes, especially with regard to the separation of powers.

“I will ensure the defense of my name, past and present associations at Sport Lisboa e Benfica and in sport in Portugal,” he stated.

The former president announced that he will request meetings with the presidents of the Fiscal Council, the Board of Directors and the General Assembly Board, to obtain formal explanations about the process and to find out whether it is in accordance with the club's statutes.

It is worth remembering that Luís Filipe Vieira resigned from the presidency in 2021, after being detained in Operation Red Card, being replaced on an interim basis by Rui Costa, who was elected president in the following elections.

With a new election scheduled for October this year, Vieira is considering the possibility of running again. However, if he is expelled as a member, he will automatically be prevented from doing so.