Benfica deny Rui Costa’s involvement in Russian deals | OneFootball

Rui Costa is being investigated by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) and is suspected of violating European legislation, facing a sanction for allegedly supporting Russian interests by receiving 70,000 euros from Lokomotiv for Germán Conti. Benfica denies knowledge of the director's involvement in such payment. Read the full red statement:

1. Sport Lisboa and Benfica transferred a player without 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. As Sport Lisboa and Benfica owned a percentage of the player's pass, the Russian club transferred to Benfica the amount corresponding to that percentage: 70,000 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 date of the transfer the club would be subject to European Union sanctions, Benfica immediately terminated the effects of the said contract and refused to receive any payment;

5. Both the sale of the player that led to the payment of the above-mentioned amount to Benfica, and the payment of that amount, which was subsequently blocked by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office, were not known or the responsibility of President Rui Costa;

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

7. The date for the inquiry 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 proposal for statutory amendment, so, having made this proof, the Public Prosecutor's Office decided to postpone the diligence. A new schedule is awaited;

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