Luis Filipe Vieira, who will stand trial in the Lex case, wants to prove in court that giving away tickets to Benfica matches, including to judges and politicians, was a common practice followed by the four main national football clubs.
This is one of the arguments of the former Benfica president’s defense in the appeal against the accusation in the “Leaks” case. In the document sent to the top, which poison Vieira stated that “although it is common, at least, for Sporting and FC Porto to extend invitations to figures from the fields of politics, public administration and justice, Benfica is the only one that has seen its presidential platform subject to scrutiny.”
To prove what he says, Vieira’s defence asks the court to oblige the clubs to add the attendance list in the presidential stands, for all matches played in the municipal stadiums of José de Alvalade, Dragao and Braga, between January 2014 and Braga. December 2017.
The Public Ministry’s indictment alleges that the former Benfica leader strengthened ties with former judge Rui Rangel in 2016 to try to resolve a tax case pending in the Sintra court, involving tax issues. The indictment says the judge took advantage of Luis Filipe Vieira’s request for help to enjoy more benefits related to Benfica, such as tickets to the presidential box and trips abroad to see the team.
