A major tremor just shook the foundations of Portuguese football. Benfica, one of the game’s giants, has pulled out of the management team overseeing the centralization of TV rights. They also want the whole process, set for 2028, to stop completely. Rui Costa, Benfica’s president, sent a strong letter to the league’s head, Reinaldo Teixeira. He made it clear he won’t be part of the management until things change direction. He believes the current plan simply won’t work for Portuguese football.
This isn’t just a small disagreement. Benfica laid out many concerns about the state of the sport in their letter. They criticized the league for not taking real action since the centralization plan was approved. Because of this, they are also seeking urgent meetings with the government and all political groups. They want to explain the problems and offer better ways forward.
Benfica hopes to reach a common agreement within the league. They want clear minimum requirements and a new plan for centralizing rights. This new plan, they say, must benefit everyone and be responsible. They want to see honest predictions for how much money different competition models could bring in. Rules for sharing that money are also key. They also demand investment in stadiums and technology. Strong plans to fight piracy and a review of tax rules and sports insurance are on their list too.
The Lisbon club states the current centralization plan is behind schedule. It might not hit its goals and is already old-fashioned compared to other countries. They promise to support the league’s overall mission. But they are also realistic about their own value in the market. Benfica says nothing should move forward without a clear vision. They need a plan that truly sets up the right conditions for the whole process.
The Eagles point fingers at the league for wasting time. They call the goal of earning 300 million euros per season unrealistic now. They argue no other options have been shown, and there haven’t been any true talks with clubs. Benfica also notes a lack of thought about new competition formats. There’s also no focus on improving existing facilities.
Benfica, led by Rui Costa, also complains about the lack of a clear plan for the league to grow internationally. They say the local TV rights market is too focused in one place. This means there’s no real competition among broadcasters. They’re upset the competition watchdog hasn’t acted, making the problem worse. Fighting piracy is another big worry. Reports suggest half of all people use illegal methods to watch football broadcasts. Plus, fans pay too much, sometimes over 500 euros a year, to watch games legally.
Benfica believes that without important changes and updates, hitting that 300-million-euro yearly income goal is impossible. They warn that, based on today’s TV market, the centralization might not even reach 150 or 200 million euros. If that happens, it would mean a huge and lasting loss of money for every club. The ball is now firmly in the league’s court to respond.