Supreme Court judge suspected in Benfica email case | justice

In addition to Benfica Sad, Luis Felipe Vieira and Paulo Gonçalves, case Emails Benfica's decision also affects Ricardo Costa, the current judge of the Supreme Court of Justice and former president of the League. The Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the extraction of testimony to analyze in more detail the messages exchanged between the judge and Paulo Gonçalves, the former legal director of the Eagles, which could constitute “criminal crimes or other crimes.”

The content of the suspicious messages was not detailed, but it is suspected that Ricardo Costa prepared a legal opinion to assist the person responsible for classifying referees at the time, Ferreira Nunes. This opinion cost 18,450 euros and was paid by Club da Luz. He advances the News magazine.

Ricardo Costa was linked to the severe penalties imposed in the famous case known as “Tunnel da Luz”, the controversial case that characterized the 2009-2010 season. Disruption in the access tunnel to the changing rooms after a match between the “Eagles” and “Dragons” in November 2009 led to a four-month ban for Hulk and a six-month ban for Saponaro.

Porto supporters claimed that the confusion started before Hosts Signed by Benfica and the players just defended themselves. The 'Eagles' denounced violent and unsportsmanlike behavior by their opponents after the defeat to Hulk, and will not play for three months, but will see the severe punishment reduced to just three matches in March 2010. For Saponaro, the punishment will be reduced to. Six months for only four matches.

Just a month before this case, there had been another incident in the tunnels, this time in Braga. Braga player Fandinho was banned for three months after he attempted to assault Benfica assistant coach, Raul José, and Braga fans accused the disciplinary board, which was headed by Ricardo Costa, of being “leaning” and wanting to ban Braga – who finished the tournament in second place, and even discussed the title. Final round.

The suspected judge was then the head of the association's disciplinary committee, the body that applied these sanctions. Before the tunnel cases, Ricardo Costa also played a central role in the case Final whistlea result that culminated in Boavista's relegation to the then first division.

The Public Ministry (MP) wants to ban Benfica from all sporting competitions, after Benfica SAD was accused of active corruption and tax fraud. These crimes also include former President Luis Felipe Vieira and former Legal Director Paulo Gonçalves. The latter had already been convicted of corruption in the first place in the context of the case eMall.

Investigate a case Emails It was concluded that Benfica created a simulated transfer plan with Setubal. Vieira and Paulo Gonçalves would be the “masterminds” of this operation, which was aimed at removing money from Benfica's business. By declaring false expenses, the “incarnates” will have received higher IRC refunds than they were supposed to under the law, concluding that false tax returns would be filed.

In one case described, it describes how Benfica signed Marcelo Hermes and Daniel dos Anjos, two free agents. Despite not having to pay any money for these signings – as the footballers do not have a club – the logo spent €4.25 million on commissions. This value did not go unnoticed by the authorities, especially since the market value of the players did not exceed 725 thousand euros.

The Public Ministry also explained that a debt of 400,000 euros between Nacional da Madeira and Benfica was paid by transferring a player from the islanders directly to Setubal. Although Benfica apparently had no involvement in the deal, Willian Barbosa's contract was signed at Luz under the supervision of Paulo Gonçalves.

The authorities say that Benfica tried to derive sporting benefits from this illicit relationship with the people of Setubal.

By Melody Gross

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