By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Three high-ranking Portuguese politicians have resigned “to avoid harming the government” amid an investigation into allegations that they took all-expenses-paid trips to Euro 2016 from sponsors of the national team.
The public prosecutors office identified the three as Fernando Rocha Andrade, João Vasconcelos and Jorge Costa Oliveira, secretaries of State for Fiscal Affairs, Industry and Internationalisation respectively.
The trio were found to have been paid by the Portuguese energy company Galp – which reportedly owes the Portuguese treasury large amounts of tax – for their travel, accommodation and match tickets for the game against Hungary in Lyon. Portugal went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Local reports say the three officials have formally been accused of “receiving unfair advantage while in public office” and could be implicated in a criminal prosecution.
In a statement Galp, official team sponsors since 1999, said it acted “in accordance with the law.”
Insisting it had done nothing wrong, the company added that the invitations were “traditional practices followed by several companies and had no other purpose than support the national team.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713480207labto1713480207ofdlr1713480207owedi1713480207sni@w1713480207ahsra1713480207w.wer1713480207dna1713480207