Benfica elections heading to a run off next Saturday

Benfica held a record setting election for President in which it failed to get a candidate over the 50% threshold that is required to become the club President for the next 4 years, setting up a run off on November 8.

Benfica club support members (socios) set an all time record with just over 85,000 supporters casting a ballot in the election yesterday. Current Benfica President led the way in support but garnered only 39.8% of the votes a massive drop from 2021 in which he captured 84.8% of members ballots.

Finishing in second was Joao Noronha Lopes who captured 35.2% of supporters votes, while former Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira finished a distant third with just 12.5% of votes cast his way.

Costa and Lopes will now have two weeks to get the support of the 25% of voters that they did not receive in the first round of elections in hopes of reaching the 50% required mark to be named the club President.