Benfica president caught in tax evasion crosshairs

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira is under investigation for tax evasion, the Portuguese club confirmed Wednesday.

Vieira, club administrator Domingos Soares de Oliveira and two companies that manage the club and own the stadium are suspected of having defrauded the taxman of 600,000 euros ($686,000) in 2016-17, Benfica said in a statement.

Portuguese public prosecutors told AFP of "the existence of an investigation... into facts likely to constitute an offence of tax fraud", without giving further details.

According to local media, suspicions were raised overpayments to suppliers for services which, in reality, had not been rendered.

Benfica are the reigning Portuguese champions but Porto are set to win the 2019-2020 title on Wednesday.

AFP