By Melody Gross 
Today, Friday, Benfica announced the results of the forensic audit that Rui Costa promised his partners, following the “red card operation.” A possible fraud scheme involving the buying and selling of players involves Benfica's SAD.
The investigation, conducted by the independent consulting firm EY, “found no situation or particularity in which SAD was directly harmed by any of its representatives.”
However, the advisor leaves SAD with a note of caution. “It is important to note that, throughout the work, we identified a range of opportunities to improve procedures and/or internal controls, in the following areas: documentation, financial analysis and counterparty analysis, with the aim of mitigating some of the deficiencies discovered. At the same time, Benfica SAD It has already implemented several of these additional controls to strengthen its internal control system, with regard to future player transaction procedures.
The results will be revealed one day before the Eagles’ General Assembly, scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Benfica SAD statement:
«Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD (Benfica SAD), following the commitment made by President Rui Costa to Benfica fans, also informs the members of Sport Lisboa e Benfica of the content of the consolidated conclusions report of the forensic audit carried out.
In order to protect Benfica's interests, shortly after becoming aware of the suspicions of the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) in the context of the process known as “Red Carding”, the management requested an independent consultant with recognized competence (specifically EY), to conduct a forensic audit based on the MP's suspicions. , which focused on the process of signing several players, with the suspicion that Benfica Sade might be harmed.
In this sense, Benfica gave SAD EY complete autonomy to prepare the aforementioned audit and cooperate in everything required, with a total of 51 transactions analyzed in all their aspects, corresponding to the totality of contracts that the MP will take into account, in some way, questionable.
The elapsed time is what EY considered necessary, given the complexity of the analysis in question and everything analysed, the large number of items analyzed and the time gap of the said analysis (about 14 years), as can be demonstrated in the said report.
In terms of the audit conclusions, what mainly stands out is the fact that EY stated that it “did not find any situation or particularity in which SAD was directly harmed by any of its representatives.”
In order to aid understanding of the report, management has also asked EY to prepare a memorandum summarizing the findings of the work, which will also be published.
In implementation of a public commitment, a copy of the report has already been sent to the Public Prosecution, within the framework of the aforementioned process, which is still under investigation.
We must add that the Administration will not fail to ensure the strict defense of Benfica SAD's interests in whatever proves necessary, always seeking to guide its conduct by legality and best practices.»
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