Portuguese Football Federation investigates 26 players for illegal betting

The Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has named 26 players as defendants in an investigation into illegal sports betting within lower-tier Portuguese competitions. The investigation centers on players linked to Portimonense SC during its time in the Campeonato de Portugal.

Among those accused is Nuno Pereira, a midfielder who plays internationally for Macau. Investigations revealed that Pereira made over 1,500 bets on competitions under the FPF's jurisdiction. This includes 22 bets on Portimonense matches, 18 of which were placed on the defeat of his own team. These bets occurred during matches where he was either in the starting lineup, on the bench, or not even called up to the squad.

While most of the 2025/26 squad is implicated, Alexandre Moutinho, brother of Portuguese international João Moutinho, is one of the few players not involved in the scheme. Portimonense SC has suspended the accused players as the legal and sporting repercussions continue to unfold.