Francisco J. Marques, communications director for Porto, says that Benfica have been monitoring the text messages of Fernando Gomes, Presidente da Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF), and making improper contact with an ex-referee who told Benfica which officials would look favourably towards them.
More bizarrely, Marques claims to have seen an email exchange between Benfica president, Luis Filipe Vieira, and Dr Armando Nhaga, from the Guinea-Bissau national police commission. According to the Record sports paper, Nhaga initially claimed he tried to help Benfica win the league in the 2015/16 season and that he was owed €75,000 by the club. Vieira denied Nhaga’s demands as he was unaware of who the Doctor was, but Vieira supposedly asked Dr Nhaga if he could work his magic and help Benfica win their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund last February.
Nhaga sent an email to Vieira asking for the agreement to be signed before the games with Borussia Dortmund together with an itemised list of fees – including €100,000 to be paid if Benfica won the Primeira Liga!
Benfica lost 4-0 in the second leg to Dortmund. So when Vieira emailed Dr Nhaga afterwards to find out what went wrong, he replied: “Whoever was dealing with it did not do it at the right moment.
The ‘Master in Lisbon’ waited for the communication and when it arrived it was late.” Communications Director Marques says ‘The Master of Lisbon’ was none other than Dr Nhaga’s brother!
Marques went on to say, “We’re talking about witchcraft involving thousands of euros that were allegedly paid by Benfica. This calls into question the coach, the players, but also (executive members) Paulo Goncalves and Pedro Guerra.” For those Benfica fans who still believe in the Curse of Bela Guttmann then the latest revelations might be of concern.
Interested in learning more about the Curse of Bela Guttmann? Then read: ‘The Greatest Comeback: From Genocide to Football Glory’ - The Story of Béla Guttmann by David Bolchover, which was published in May this year.