Benfica Assembly Erupts With Threats Shoves and Insults

Benfica's General Assembly President, José Pereira da Costa, has suspended the Ordinary General Assembly, which was set to review and vote on the 2024/2025 management report and accounts, as well as the Fiscal Council's report and opinion, citing security concerns.

It remains uncertain if the meeting will resume. Pereira da Costa informed members that he would assess the conditions for resuming the assembly at 2:30 PM.

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Pereira da Costa made the decision to suspend proceedings just before 1 PM, following significant tension in Pavilion 2 at the Estádio da Luz.

The unrest began when Luís Filipe Vieira approached the podium to address the members.

Many chose to leave the pavilion in protest (supporters of João Diogo Manteigas were among the first to exit), while some who remained hurled insults at the former club president. Near the exits, the club anthem was sung, alongside chants of "Benfica is ours and always will be."

It was at this point that José Pereira da Costa decided to suspend the General Assembly. Immediately afterward, João Noronha Lopes and João Diogo Manteigas converged to try and persuade the Assembly President to resume the proceedings.

Martim Mayer and Cristóvão Carvalho, also candidates, joined Noronha Lopes and João Diogo Manteigas. The four insisted to Pereira da Costa that the assembly should continue. However, the Assembly President maintained his decision, accusing supporters of certain candidacies of instigating the incident.

Luís Filipe Vieira joined the discussion, leading to a heated argument. Tensions escalated further, resulting in several shoves and even threats of assault against João Noronha Lopes. Security personnel intervened to prevent any physical altercations.

Minutes later, Pereira da Costa announced that the General Assembly would resume at 2:30 PM, provided all security conditions were met.

"This stems from the past; there's a group here, associated with the 'Servir o Benfica' [Serve Benfica] movement, which includes Benitez and João Manteigas. They were coordinating and challenged others to leave the room when I was about to speak. But let's talk, calmly. They have to listen," Vieira stated in comments to CMTV.

The former club president attended the meeting accompanied by several security guards. Some members from the candidacies of João Diogo Manteigas and João Noronha Lopes have complained of being threatened by them.