Former Benfica President Luís Filipe Vieira has publicly defended a controversial 600,000 euro payment to an agent during his tenure, dismissing scrutiny as an attack on standard football practices and challenging critics to trace the funds. The payment, approximately $650,000, was made to Ulisses Santos, agent for then-player Ronaldo Camará.
Speaking on a Portuguese football podcast late last week, Vieira, now a candidate for the Benfica presidency, characterized such payments as “very common in football.” He urged those questioning the legality of the transaction to “follow the money trail” and “see where it goes.”
Vieira suggested that club audits, whether past or future, would vindicate the payment. He asserted that “the money always leaves a trail.”
The controversy stems from negotiations surrounding Camará, who was nearing the end of his contract with the Lisbon club. Benfica reportedly “penalized” the player by removing him from the team and restricting him to gym training. This measure aimed to pressure Camará into renewing his contract or facilitate his immediate sale.
Vieira maintained that internal reports had identified Camará as a player Benfica intended to keep. He said negotiations involved the player, his father, and agent Ulisses Santos, culminating in the 600,000 euro payment, described as a “participation.”
The former president emphasized that “agents exist and are part of the industry.” He implied that critics often focus on negative aspects while overlooking the broader context of club operations.
Vieira also hinted at a different approach to Camará’s situation after his departure from the club. He noted that the player was later released, with the club reportedly discovering subsequently that Camará still had more years on his contract.