Benfica deny Rui Costa’s ties to Russian deals | OneFootball

Rui Costa is under investigation by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) and is suspected of violating European legislation, facing a sanction for allegedly supporting Russian interests by receiving 70 thousand euros from Lokomotiv for Germán Conti. Benfica denies any knowledge by the director of the payment of such an amount. Read the full statement from the club:

1. Sport Lisboa e Benfica loaned a player without any financial compensation in the 2022/23 season to a Russian football club;

2. In the following season, the Russian club sold this player to a third club. Since Sport Lisboa e Benfica held a percentage of the player's rights, the Russian club transferred to Benfica the amount corresponding to that percentage: 70 thousand euros.

3. The transfer in question was validated by FIFA's TMS;

4. When it became known that the Public Prosecutor's Office understood that, at the time of the transfer, the club was subject to European Union sanctions, Benfica immediately terminated the effects of the said contract and refused to receive any payment;

5. Neither the sale of the player that led to the payment of the amount mentioned above to Benfica, nor the payment itself, which would later be blocked by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office, were known to or the responsibility of President Rui Costa;

6. The notification from the Public Prosecutor's Office was made to the legal representative of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, who is President Rui Costa;

7. The date set for questioning coincided with the date of the squad presentation for the current season as well as the meeting of the Plenary of the Social Bodies, scheduled to consider the proposed statutory amendment, so, having provided this evidence, the Public Prosecutor's Office decided to postpone the procedure. A new date is awaited;

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.