Portugal’s media regulator has cleared the way for Sport Lisboa e Benfica to become the first football club in the country to fully own and operate a dedicated sports news radio station, setting a precedent after a review of European practices.
The Entidade Reguladora da Comunicação Social (ERC) authorized the complete transfer of Goal News FM Rádio, Lda., to the Lisbon-based club.
This decision followed the ERC’s finding that all legal requirements for the ownership change were met.
The regulatory approval positions Benfica as the pioneer among Portuguese clubs in holding such a media asset.
Before granting its authorization, the ERC consulted its counterparts across Europe.
The regulator concluded that “the majority of countries surveyed allow clubs or companies owning these clubs to possess radio stations, provided they respect general rules.”