João Gabriel criticizes Proença, stating that there's a consistent pattern in his actions which is not favorable
In a recent interview with NOW, Luís Filipe Vieira, former president of Benfica, made serious accusations against Pedro Proença, the current president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Vieira called Proença a "coward" and accused him of biased influence within the FPF, favouring Sporting, a rival club [1].
Vieira suggested that there might be issues that the FPF is seeking to defend against accusations. He implied that the FPF's statement, issued in response to his interview, was made in a hurried manner, possibly due to being approached beforehand. He stated that the statement was worth nothing [2].
The specific individual who was the subject of Vieira's serious accusations was Pedro Proença. Vieira claimed that Proença was no longer capable of effectively leading the FPF and that several key positions in the FPF were held by individuals connected to Sporting, suggesting a loss of Benfica's influence in the federation and the football league [1].
One of the allegations made by Vieira includes the installation of a camera in a voting urn during the elections for the League in 2019. An informatician who carried out the installation of the camera has confirmed this information [3]. The camera was allegedly installed so that Pedro Proença could know how the presidents of the clubs were voting.
The creation of an Ethics Committee at the FPF was announced recently. The committee, chaired by Emanuel Medeiros, will need to demonstrate strength in investigating the actions of Pedro Proença [4]. Emanuel Medeiros will be tasked with leading the investigation into these serious allegations.
In response, Pedro Proença and the FPF issued a formal statement rejecting these accusations. They emphasized that neither the federation nor its president would allow their credibility or honor to be questioned. They warned that they reserve the right to use all legal means to defend their reputation and good name against such claims [2][3].
As of the latest available information, no official legal actions have been reported. However, the FPF's statement indicates a readiness to pursue legal remedies to protect its institutional integrity [2][3].
It is worth noting that Vieira spoke about João Félix in his interview, though the context of this mention is not clear in the provided information. Additionally, Vieira did not clarify if he would be a candidate in the next month's elections.
References: [1] RTP - Luís Filipe Vieira acusa Pedro Proença de favoritismo para Sporting [2] Público - FPF reagiu à acusação de Luís Filipe Vieira: "Reservamos o direito de recorrer à justiça" [3] Expresso - Luís Filipe Vieira afirma que a FPF instalou câmara oculta nas urnas [4] FPF anuncia a criação de um comité ético, presidido por Emanuel Medeiros
- Luís Filipe Vieira's accusations against Pedro Proença, the current president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), extend beyond favoritism towards Sporting. He also alleged that a camera was installed in a voting urn during the elections for the League in 2019.
- The European football leagues, including the Premier League, are keeping a close eye on the developing situation in Portuguese sports, as Vieira's claims of council manipulation and biased influence within the FPF have raised concerns about the integrity of sports analysis and decision-making within the federation.
- The creation of an Ethics Committee at the FPF, chaired by Emanuel Medeiros, will be crucial in investigating Vieira's allegations against Pedro Proença and restoring the public's trust in the fairness and impartiality of the federation.
