Former Benfica vice-president accuses Lourenço Coelho of conflict of interest at FPF | OneFootball

Fernando Tavares has accused Lourenço Coelho of a conflict of interest over his recent role at the FPF. In a LinkedIn post, the former Benfica vice-president said the circumstances around Coelho’s move raised transparency concerns.

He said Lourenço Pereira Coelho, a former SL Benfica Futebol SAD executive, took on responsibilities with the national teams at the FPF. At the same time, he served as Benfica’s delegate in the election in which Pedro Proença was elected FPF president.

Tavares stressed he holds personal and professional admiration for Coelho, adding that his concerns relate to transparency, not the individual.

He argued that in modern football it is not only about being transparent, it must also appear transparent. Rapid moves between clubs and the federation can reduce public trust even when procedures are legal.

He added that Portugal is often described as having strong informal networks and close personal ties, creating a risk that decisions could be influenced by proximity and that individual or short-term interests might override effective organisational performance.

Source: Glorioso 1904