The Portuguese Prosecutor’s Office together with the Tax authority has carried out a mega raid framed within the ‘Penalti’ operation that searches more than 67 points in Portugal for evidence of fraud in the transfer of players. The records have occurred within the most important sports venues in the country: Estádios do Dragão, Da Luz and Alvalade. To the headquarters of the three most important entities in Portugal: Porto, Benfica and Sporting de Portugal. As well as in the house of Alexandre Pinto da Costa, agent and son of Pinto da Costa, president of Porto. There have also been searches at the home of three Benfica players: Gonçalo Guedes, Vlachodimos and Chiquinho.
It is the transfer of the former Valencia soccer player, Goncalo Guedesfrom Benfica to PSG and, later, from the French club to Valencia (Benfica received €1.4M in this last operation) one of those who is in the spotlight, according to the Portuguese media. The operations of Vlachodimos and Chiquinho, currently in the ranks of Benfica, are also being investigated. The Portuguese media indicate that in the case of Sporting de Portugal the signings of: bas Dost, Naldo, André Pinto, Rúben Semedo, Battaglia, Beto and Schelotto.
Porto has issued a statement on the events suffered in Portugal: “As always, and sure of proper compliance with the rules relating to its activity, Porto is collaborating with the courts and providing all the elements that are requested.” Benfica and Sporting de Portugal, clubs also implicated, have published similar statements confirming the records and putting the club at the entire disposal of the Portuguese authorities.
Investigators from the Central Department of Criminal Investigation and Action are seeking “evidence of embezzlement and concealment of income in player transfer contracts”. The events under investigation occurred between 2014 and 2022 and have a “strong international dimension.” “There are indications of illegitimate patrimonial, fiscal and social security advantages, for a global amount of more than 58 million euros”, has reported the Central Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP).