Portuguese Football Clubs Under Scrutiny for Money Laundering and Corruption
Lisbon, Portugal – At the recent SIGA FITS Forum 2025, Luís Ribeiro, coordinator of the National Judicial Police Combating Corruption Unit (PJ), shed light on the alarming use of portuguese football clubs for money laundering and other illicit activities. The forum, held in Lisbon, brought together global leaders in sports integrity to address pressing issues like corruption and financial transparency.
Ribeiro emphasized that Portugal is not unique in facing these challenges. “Portugal is no different from other countries, whether in Europe or outside the European continent, which has a concern regarding the themes of the owner’s owner, that is, who is effectively ahead of club destinations,” he stated.
The PJ has encountered numerous cases were clubs have been used to “whiten money with unlawful origin.” Ribeiro explained, “We have had situations in some clubs with the entry of capital clearly unidentified as to its origin or the objectives of those who acquire a club.” He added, “When we have investors who invest large amounts of money in Portuguese clubs, it’s something that catches our attention, because we want to no what clubs want to do.”
One of the key issues highlighted was the misuse of image rights in the sports industry. Ribeiro described them as “a fungible commodity,” noting that money frequently enough leaves clubs through “commission payments to intermediaries without great clarity and overvalued values so that there is an image of something lawful, no proportional values and on the way to offshore accounts.”
In addition, Ribeiro revealed that fictitious service contracts have been used to justify the outflow of funds. “We have overvalued or fictitious contracts, which only serve to justify the exit of money and to allow the surplus to revert to other purposes,” he said. “From a certain time, money circulates in cash and as it does not speak, it cannot be seen to what end it was used.”
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has expressed concern over these revelations. An official source stated, “These statements that cover clubs in Portugal and abroad are a real concern for the FPF.” The federation is actively working to combat these issues by dedicating resources to “the collection and verification of information related to the identification of the so-called ‘investors’ of all licensed societies and clubs.”
The FPF is also collaborating with authorities, including the Judicial Police, to ensure transparency and accountability. “The FPF actively cooperates with all authorities with competences in this matter, namely with the Judicial Police itself,” the source added.
| Key Issues in Portuguese Football |
|—————————————|
| Money laundering through clubs |
| Unidentified capital from investors |
| Misuse of image rights |
| Fictitious service contracts |
| Collaboration between FPF and PJ |
The revelations at the SIGA FITS Forum 2025 underscore the urgent need for greater financial integrity in sports. As Ribeiro concluded, “None of this is exclusive to sport, it happens in the public and private sector.” The fight against corruption in football remains a critical priority for authorities and organizations like the FPF and PJ.
Portuguese Football Clubs Under Scrutiny for Money Laundering and corruption
In a recent interview wiht world-today-news.com, Senior Editor clara Martins sat down with miguel Silva, a leading financial crimes investigator specializing in sports corruption, to discuss the alarming revelations made at the SIGA FITS Forum 2025. They explored how Portuguese football clubs have become embroiled in money laundering schemes, the misuse of image rights, and the role of fictitious contracts in facilitating illicit activities.
The Growing Concerns in Portuguese Football
Clara Martins: Miguel, thank you for joining us today. At the SIGA FITS Forum 2025, Luís Ribeiro of the Judicial Police highlighted significant concerns about corruption in Portuguese football. Can you elaborate on the key issues being raised?
Miguel Silva: Absolutely, Clara. The primary concerns revolve around the use of football clubs as vehicles for money laundering.Investigators have identified instances where clubs receive considerable investments from sources with unclear origins. These funds are often used to legitimize illicit money, making it appear as though it came from legitimate business activities. Additionally,there’s widespread misuse of image rights and the creation of fictitious service contracts to justify the outflow of funds.
Misuse of Image Rights and Fictitious Contracts
Clara Martins: Ribeiro described image rights as a “fungible commodity.” how are these being exploited in the sports industry?
Miguel Silva: Image rights have become a tool for financial manipulation. Clubs frequently enough overvalue these rights, paying excessive commissions to intermediaries. These payments are then funneled into offshore accounts, making it difficult to trace the money’s true destination. similarly, fictitious service contracts are created to justify financial transactions.These contracts are inflated or entirely fabricated, allowing clubs to move large sums of money without legitimate justification.
The Role of Unidentified Investors
Clara Martins: There’s been a lot of talk about unidentified investors pouring money into clubs. What are the risks associated with this?
Miguel Silva: The biggest risk is the lack of clarity. When investors inject capital into clubs without disclosing their identities or the source of their funds, it raises red flags. In many cases, this money comes from illicit activities.Without proper oversight, these investments can be used to launder money or fund other illegal operations. The Judicial Police and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) are working to address this by identifying and verifying the backgrounds of these investors.
Clara Martins: How is the FPF working to combat these issues?
Miguel Silva: The FPF is taking proactive steps to ensure transparency. They’re dedicating resources to collecting and verifying information about club investors. Additionally, they’re collaborating closely with the Judicial Police and other authorities to investigate suspicious activities. This partnership is crucial for holding clubs accountable and preventing further misuse of the football industry.
The Path Forward for Financial Integrity in sports
Clara Martins: What’s the broader takeaway from these revelations?
Miguel Silva: The SIGA FITS Forum 2025 underscored the urgent need for greater financial integrity in sports. These issues aren’t unique to Portugal—they’re a global problem affecting both the public and private sectors. To combat corruption, we need stronger regulations, better oversight, and collaboration between sports organizations, law enforcement, and governments. Only then can we ensure that football remains a sport rooted in fairness and integrity.
Conclusion
The interview with Miguel Silva highlights the complex challenges facing Portuguese football. From money laundering to the misuse of image rights and fictitious contracts, the industry is at a crossroads. However, with the FPF and Judicial Police working together to address these issues, there’s hope for a more clear and accountable future in sports.
