Public Prosecutor's Office opens investigation into Vieira for alleged defamation of Proença
The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) has opened an investigation against the former president of Benfica — and likely candidate for the October elections — Luís Filipe Vieira for alleged defamation of the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença.
“The opening of an investigation that originated from a complaint filed is confirmed,” the Attorney General’s Office responded to questions sent by Observador, adding that the complaint was submitted “for alleged defamation and slanderous accusation.”
The investigation now opened at the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon was triggered by a complaint that originated within the FPF itself, after the organization repudiated Vieira's statements on Saturday and announced in a statement that it reserved the "right to use all legal means available to defend its good name, credibility and honorability whenever these are called into question."
The case is based on accusations made by the former president of the Luz club, which he led between 2003 and 2021, against Pedro Proença, made in an interview with Now last Friday. Luís Filipe Vieira alleged that he was "enticed" by the current president of the FPF before the elections for the organization's presidency with the intention of dissuading Nuno Lobo, the candidate who ultimately lost the race, from running.
"He even persuaded me not to run for office. He had a €15,000 salary and a car, and when I went to UEFA, he would be the president. What did I tell him? I'll see. One day we'll have a face-to-face meeting and we'll talk seriously about Portuguese football. There's no such thing as sweet words. Far be it from me to think he'd say this, but I was outraged. He can't interfere in Benfica's elections. He's already done so much harm to Benfica, even as a referee," said Luís Filipe Vieira.
observador
