LISBON: Portuguese Premier League soccer club Sporting launched a scathing attack on Benfica yesterday, saying their Lisbon rivals were “technically broke” and had no right to meddle in Sporting’s troubles.
Sporting, who have admitted to financial difficulties, took offence at remarks by Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, who said last week some Portuguese clubs must have found “a magic formula” to survive while posting financial losses year after year.
“He made a reference to Sporting’s ‘millionaire losses’. Sporting and their fans do not take lessons from Benfica’s president,” Sporting said in a statement posted on the club website (www.sporting.pt). “Benfica’s liabilities are the biggest ever in the history of Portuguese football,” the club said, adding that Benfica were “technically broke”.
Benfica declined to comment on Sporting’s statement.
According to their listed company filing, Benfica posted a loss of 12 million euros ($16m) in the period from July 2011 to June 2012 and their liabilities totalled 426 million euros, an 11 percent rise from the previous year. Benfica’s assets were 412m euros.
Sporting are looking for investors to improve their financial situation and posted a loss of 46 million euros in the same period - a four percent rise driven mainly by player purchases. REUTERS
