Authorities search Benfica, Porto and Sporting offices in corruption case

Tax authorities have recovered unlawful payments from

On Wednesday, 60 searches, mostly in Lisbon and Porto were conducted by Portuguese prosecutors and tax officials looking into allegations of unlawful payments totalling €58 million ($62.9 million) related to transfer dealings. These searches included the headquarters of illustrious teams Benfica, FC Porto, and Sporting CP.

The Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action's (DCIAP) Public Prosecutor's Office reported that both homes and commercial locations, including legal firms and accounting firms, had been searched.

"The inquiries investigate alleged crimes of tax fraud, fraud against social security and money laundering connected with the signing or renewal of sports labor contracts, payment of commissions, and financial circuits involving intermediaries in these businesses, as well as the use of image rights," the prosecutor's office said in a statement, adding that the investigations related to events between 2014 and 2022 and have "strong international impact."

"There are indications of profit-generating crime in acquiring assets, against the tax authority and social security that are valued at more than 58 million euros," it said.

The clubs acknowledged that their offices had been raided and said that they were working with law enforcement.

The raids were part of a significant investigation named "Offside" that was launched in 2015 in response to warnings from the Portuguese banking system about allegedly illegitimate transactions involving millions of euros.

In the past few years, more than 100 raids have been conducted at homes, workplaces and football clubs.

After being jailed as part of a search into alleged tax evasion and money laundering, Luis Filipe Vieira gave up his position as president of Benfica, a club from Lisbon, in 2021.