The world of football elections often hides more drama off the pitch than on it. Candidate Martim Mayer just pulled back the curtain on one such episode. He spoke exclusively to CMTV, dropping a bombshell. Mayer claimed fellow candidate João Diogo Manteigas approached him to merge their campaigns. But here’s the kicker: Manteigas wasn’t after a spot in the club’s social bodies. He wanted to be an administrator of the SAD, which is the football company.
Mayer didn’t mince words. He believes his consistent stance and proposals will win over Benfica members. He’s not just running to be a candidate; he’s showing how he will lead as president. Then, he brought up a story he wasn’t planning to tell, offering it as a first-hand account. Doubts lingered about whether João Diogo Manteigas really wanted to join Mayer’s team. Mayer confirmed it. Manteigas called him and came to his house, asking to talk. He then made a clear offer to join Mayer’s candidacy. He specifically aimed for a spot as a SAD administrator. He also suggested other complementary roles. Mayer swore it was all true, happening right there, face-to-face, about six weeks ago. Manteigas later denied this, just as he denied events at the recent General Assembly. But Mayer insisted his versions are not just versions, they are the truth. As the old saying goes, a lie has short legs.
A Sole Path Forward
The reporter pressed Mayer on whether he planned to join another candidacy. Mayer clarified that candidates formally register on October 10. He explained that approving the electoral regulations didn’t mean approving electronic voting for members in the Azores, Madeira, or abroad. Only after candidacies are finalized can anyone know who agrees on electronic voting. Voting on the regulations simply meant agreeing to the practical rules of the election process. No electoral regulations are perfect, he noted. Mayer declared he would not join any other candidacy before October 10. He plans to go all the way, sticking with his proposal and his united, fresh team. This team has never been part of Benfica’s official roles before, and that’s how they intend to proceed.
The reporter then asked Mayer if he would name anyone else present at that meeting with João Diogo Manteigas. Mayer said he would keep one person’s name confidential out of respect. However, he confirmed that Mr. António Simões was there. Simões came with Manteigas and even gave him directions to Mayer’s house. Mayer welcomed them both gladly.
Behind the Chaos at the General Assembly
Mayer also spoke about the General Assembly (AG) held last Saturday. When asked who was to blame for the confusion, he offered a careful response. He began by saying his campaign always aims for a very positive approach. He has a well-structured plan and focuses on protecting the club. He believes some issues are best kept internal. However, in this case, a different approach was needed. All 400,000 Benfica members who missed the AG needed to know what really happened. He felt obliged to explain the exact sequence of events, first-hand.
He recalled that João Diogo Manteigas looked him in the eye and asked if he, Manteigas, was going to leave the Assembly while Luís Filipe Vieira spoke. He suggested João Noronha Lopes might do the same. Mayer immediately refused. He said he was there to listen to all members. He treats everyone equally. Even though he has many disagreements with Luís Filipe Vieira, Vieira was once president of Benfica. Mayer believes he deserves respect, just like every other member. Mayer didn’t hesitate and replied at once that he would not leave.
The reporter pointed out that Manteigas claimed a group of members approached him, and he simply passed their message to other candidates. This was very different from Mayer’s account. The reporter asked if Mayer was saying Manteigas suggested, or even led, the walkout. Mayer confirmed this. He added that if any member had approached him with such an idea, he would have tried to dissuade them. He would have explained why it was the wrong thing to do. Mayer couldn’t see how Manteigas’s excuse held up. Elections were less than 30 days away. Candidates, Mayer argued, carry even more responsibility than other members at these assemblies. They represent all those who cannot attend. Common sense is key. They must control their emotions and react in ways that protect Benfica and uphold the club’s statutes. Benfica is a democratic club, and it makes no sense to leave an AG when the purpose is to listen to members. If these actions hadn’t occurred, maybe 5,000 or 10,000 members would have attended, instead of just 800 or 900. Anything that changes this pattern and promotes debate and democracy, Mayer said, is a huge responsibility for every candidate.
The reporter then pressed Mayer, noting that he went beyond blaming Manteigas. Mayer hinted at a “playbook” and organized movements by two candidacies. Mayer replied that any Benfica member attending an AG can see the clear alignment among the members present. There is no doubt about these members’ agenda. Giving a good example is crucial. Mr. Constantino, the coordinator of Benfica houses in the United States and Canada, lives 10,000 kilometers from the Estádio da Luz. He considered this AG so important that he traveled specifically for it. He came to ask candidates to find a way for him and the members he represents to vote. He wasn’t just talking about electronic voting. He asked them to find a way for all members to vote. However, he couldn’t finish his statement. He was constantly booed, met with aggression and rudeness. Even after returning to his seat from his unfinished speech, he was insulted multiple times.
Was this, the reporter asked, at the behest of João Noronha Lopes and João Diogo Manteigas? Mayer stated there’s an alignment of ideas about what can be said at the AGs. If someone speaks against those ideas, which Mayer attributes to these two candidates, they cannot be heard.
So, the reporter asked, is the responsibility theirs? Mayer responded that every adult is responsible for their own actions. Each member is accountable for themselves. However, candidates have an added responsibility. They know who their supporters are. Therefore, they should show enough leadership to ensure democracy prevails. You cannot separate one thing from the other, Mayer said, making his point clear.
Finally, the reporter asked if Mayer could confirm that Luís Filipe Vieira arrived with security personnel. Mayer confirmed that Vieira did not enter alone. He couldn’t identify who those individuals were. However, he was sure they were Benfica members qualified to be at the General Assembly. That, he stated, was a fact. He added that Vieira did not come with a large group of people.