Portimonense SC betting scandal investigation

Portimonense SC suspended 26 players following allegations of involvement in a sports betting scandal. The club initiated internal disciplinary proceedings, expressing “deep displeasure and repudiation of the facts” while emphasizing that integrity is non-negotiable.

Central to the allegations is Nuno Pereira, a former player and Macau international, who reportedly placed 1,536 sports bets. Investigations indicated that 22 of these bets were on Portimonense matches, with 18 specifically targeting the team’s defeat. These bets occurred during periods when Pereira was either in the lineup, on the bench, or not called up to the squad.

The investigation has since expanded to the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), which named the 26 players as defendants. The probe focuses on illegal betting within lower-tier Portuguese competitions, specifically during Portimonense’s time in the Campeonato de Portugal. While most of the 2025/26 squad is implicated, Alexandre Moutinho was identified as one of the few players not involved.