Rui Costa Benfica's New President Replaces Vieira Caught In Tax Evasion Case

Manuel Rui Costa (Photo: slbenfica.p)

JAKARTA - Former Portugal national team star Rui Costa has been appointed as the new president of club Benfica following a tax evasion and money laundering case involving former president Luis Filipe Vieira.

Vieira was previously relieved of duty by Benfica on Friday before Rui Costa was recently entrusted with the promotion of vice president of the club.

"This decision has the full support of all members of Benfica's board of directors," the club said in a statement.

Vieira, who was re-elected in October last year, was arrested by the authorities on Wednesday, July 7 for questioning over a deal worth more than 100 million euros (approximately Rp1.7 trillion) which has the potential to cause huge losses to the state and a number of companies.

Rui Costa retired as a player after Euro 2004 and spent most of his career at Benfica and two Italian teams, namely Fiorentina and AC Milan.

Vieira's release from the presidency of the club and its parent company, Benfica SAD, took effect immediately but the 74-year-old's lawyer, Manuel Magalhaes e Silva, said his client had not resigned.

"This is still a discharge, not a resignation," said Magalhaes e Silva.

Vieira is scheduled to attend court on Friday local time.