Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes has sought to quell concerns over internal alignment, affirming his entire campaign team, including prominent member Nuno Gomes, fully supports his vision for Portuguese football despite Gomes’s past backing of a powerful league official.
Noronha Lopes emphasized that “My entire board is aligned with my vision for Portuguese football, including Nuno Gomes. There is no doubt about that.”
The candidate was addressing Nuno Gomes’s previous support for Pedro Proença, the current president of the Portuguese Football League.
Noronha Lopes highlighted that other key Benfica figures, including Luís Filipe Vieira and Rui Costa, had also previously supported Proença.
He pointed out his unique position, stating: “The one who never supported Pedro Proença was João Noronha Lopes.”
The 59-year-old manager made these remarks during an interview on the ‘Visão Vermelha’ podcast.
Noronha Lopes also outlined his broader approach to institutional relations within Portuguese football.
He stated his commitment to fostering positive relationships with all stakeholders.
However, he affirmed he would “never stop defending Benfica’s interests.”
This defense encompasses crucial areas such as the centralization of broadcasting rights, the restructuring of competitive frameworks, and elections for both the Portuguese Football League and the Portuguese Football Federation. He added that he might, at times, agree or disagree with Pedro Proença on specific issues.