The organization has leveled several criticisms at the previous administration regarding the “labor structure” in the contract with the former national team coach and warns that it may end the season with negative accounts.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) issued a statement this Friday, reporting that it had been notified by Social Security to pay approximately 2.6 million euros related to the contract of former national team coach Fernando Santos.
The organization highlights the “seriousness” of the situation, relating to contributions considered to be outstanding in the period between December 2021 and December 2022 (the previous amounts have expired). At issue is the contract of the former national team coach and the rest of the technical staff, signed by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), at the time led by Fernando Gomes, with the company Femacosa, established in 2014 and belonging to the coach’s family.
The amount of 2.6 million euros is subject to interest and penalties. Therefore, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) could end the season with a deficit, as a positive result of 3.1 million euros had been projected.
The organization, now chaired by Pedro Proença, criticizes the “labor structure” used by Fernando Gomes’ administration to sign the contract with Fernando Santos and assures that Roberto Martínez’s current contract is in accordance with “a contract of a sporting nature.
Social Security alleges legal non-compliance in the employment structure conceived during the period in question, based on the use of various commercial companies instead of entering into a sports-related contract with the coaching staff – contrary to what was common practice until then and which is, moreover, practiced with the current National Team Coach,” reads the FPF statement.
The Federation held an emergency meeting last Tuesday and decided to “proceed with the immediate settlement of the amounts owed,” given the high associated costs and because it considered that there were “reduced chances of success in any potential dispute.
“It was, however, decided that, given that the present process was inherited from the previous Administration and taking into account the seriousness of the facts in question, the Board will give timely and formal notice of the same to the FPF’s Governing Bodies, as well as to its Ordinary Members, at the General Assembly, for the purposes deemed pertinent, the FPF statement concludes.
The full statement from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF):
“Given the seriousness of a notification received from Social Security regarding contracts with the company Femacosa, signed by the previous administration, the Portuguese Football Federation convened its Board of Directors for an emergency meeting, which took place last Tuesday, January 20th.”
The notification received from Social Security indicates a request for payment of at least €2,603,838, relating to contributions considered outstanding for the period between December 2021 and December 2022, plus interest and penalties, which have not yet been calculated. It is therefore estimated that the total amount to be paid will be substantially higher, with a highly serious and significant impact on the financial situation and budgetary balance of the Portuguese Football Federation for the current season, which had projected a positive result of €3.1 million.
The Social Security Administration alleges legal non-compliance with the employment structure conceived during the period in question, based on the use of various commercial companies instead of entering into a sports-related contract with the coaching staff = contrary to what was common practice until then and which is, moreover, practiced with the current National Team Coach.
The Board of Directors of the Portuguese Football Federation maintains its absolute commitment to good management practices, as well as total transparency and the unwavering defense of the good name and reputation of this institution, principles that guided other decisions regarding this case, namely when, in April 2025, it decided to withdraw the appeal filed with the Constitutional Court regarding the successive decisions, in various instances, concerning the request from media outlets for access to a set of documents related to this process.
In line with previous decisions, and supported by independent legal opinions concluding that maintaining the dispute is clearly pointless – given the low probability of success of any potential challenge and the high associated costs, including court fees, accrued interest, and increased fines – the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Football Federation unanimously decided to proceed with the immediate settlement of the outstanding amounts.
However, it was decided that, given that the present process was inherited from the previous Administration and considering the seriousness of the facts in question, the Board will give due and formal notice of the same to the FPF’s governing bodies, as well as to its Ordinary Members, at a General Assembly, for the purposes deemed pertinent.
The Board of Directors of the Portuguese Football Federation maintains its absolute commitment to good management practices, as well as total transparency and the unwavering defense of the good name and reputation of this institution, principles that guided other decisions regarding this case, namely when, in April 2025, it decided to withdraw the appeal filed with the Constitutional Court regarding the successive decisions, in various instances, concerning the request from media outlets for access to a set of documents related to this process.
In line with previous decisions, and supported by independent legal opinions concluding that maintaining the dispute is clearly pointless – given the low probability of success of any potential challenge and the high associated costs, including court fees, accrued interest, and increased fines – the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Football Federation unanimously decided to proceed with the immediate settlement of the outstanding amounts.
However, it was decided that, given that the present process was inherited from the previous Administration and considering the seriousness of the facts in question, the Board will give due and formal notice of the same to the FPF’s governing bodies, as well as to its Ordinary Members, at a General Assembly, for the purposes deemed pertinent.