Luís Filipe Vieira

Vieira was born on 22 June 1949 in Bairro das Furnas, São Domingos de Benfica, to Benvinda Ferreira (mother), a factory worker, and Fernando Mendes Vieira, a construction worker.

Vieira started his professional career in the tire industry, where he got the nickname "Kadhafi dos pneus" (Kadhafi of tires). Afterwards, he asserted himself in the construction industry; along with two partners, he funded Obriverca in 1985, which was considered one of Portugal's biggest construction companies. In 2008, seven years after leaving the company, Vieira was ranked by Portuguese magazine Exame as the 74th wealthiest person in Portugal, with a fortune of €162 million, mostly due to his real estate business called Grupo Inland. This company belongs to business group Promovalor, managed by his son, Tiago, and of which Vieira is chairman of the board of directors.

On 31 January 2018, the Portuguese Attorney General's Office confirmed Vieira as a formal suspect (arguido) in Operação Lex (Operation Lex) for influence peddling. In 2018, Vieira had allegedly promised then judge (and neighbour) Rui Rangel a position at Benfica in return for an alleged influence on a pending lawsuit related to a company belonging to Vieira's family.

By May 2021, Vieira was considered the second-biggest debtor of Novo Banco, with a debt of €440 million related to Promovalor.

Vieira married Vanda on 23 August 1974, and they have two children, Tiago (son) and Sara (daughter). Vieira resides in Dafundo, Oeiras.

In 1993, Vieira was sentenced to 20 months in prison for stealing a truck in 1984 to collect a debt. However, he did not serve the sentence because of two amnesty laws, which granted him full pardon.

In July 2021, Tiago, along with his father, was arrested in operation "Red Card" (Portuguese: Cartão Vermelho). In September that year, at the request of Novo Banco, the Civil Court of Lisbon ordered the seizing of Vieira's Benfica shares and a house. He was hoping to sell his 3.28% of shares for €5.9 million. In October 2022, Vieira was sentenced to pay 7.5 million euros to Novo Banco by the same court. He has appealed the decision.

Lawsuit, arrest and resignation

On 10 June 2021, Vieira was the target of a civil lawsuit by lawyer and Benfica member Jorge Mattamouros with the goal of removing him from presidency for violation of the club's statutes. Vieira was accused of using Benfica for personal gain. Mattamouros promised to remove the lawsuit if Vieira resigned.

On 7 July, Vieira and José António dos Santos were arrested on suspicions of breach of trust against Benfica, aggravated fraud, tax evasion, forgery, and money laundering. Among the accusations, Vieira and Santos are indicted for making a promissory contract, without notifying the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, to sell 25% of Benfica SAD to American businessman John Textor for €50 million, with the latter making a €1 million advance payment. In addition, Vieira and businessman Bruno Macedo are accused of embezzling €2.5 million from transfers of footballers Derlis González, Cláudio Correa, and César Martins.

Two days after the arrest, Vieira suspended his functions as president, despite the club statutes not allowing it, and was temporarily replaced by vice-president Rui Costa. On 10 July, Vieira was put under house arrest on bail of €3 million, to be paid within 20 days, and was ordered to hand over his passport. He released a statement two days later requesting supporters to "remain calm in defending the good reputation of the wonderful institution that is Benfica", and his lawyer said Vieira was considering a return as club president. Vieira resigned from presidency of Benfica and its SAD on 15 July, and Mattamouros withdrew his lawsuit.

During Vieira's 18-year presidency of Benfica, the men's football team won 7 league titles, 3 Portuguese Cups, 7 League Cups, and 5 Portuguese Super Cups.