Benfica confirms season opener against Académico de Viseu will be played without fans after pyrotechnics sanction

The sanction

The Portuguese Authority for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sport (APCVD) imposed a one-match closed-doors penalty and a €150,000 fine after Benfica supporters used pyrotechnics in five matches during the 2022/23 season. The incidents included a Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland in 2022, a league match against Arouca also in 2022, and the Lisbon derby against Sporting in 2023. The sanction resulted from a legal accumulation of several proceedings over recent years. Benfica appealed, arguing that only the sectors where the incidents occurred should be closed, similar to UEFA's approach in European competitions. The Lisbon Court of Appeal (Tribunal da Relação) upheld the full stadium ban in early July 2026, exhausting all legal avenues. The sanction had been temporarily frozen, allowing Benfica to play with fans against Braga in the penultimate round of 2025/26. The club later attempted to serve the ban during a pre-season friendly against Belenenses but abandoned the idea and opened ticket sales for that match.

Benfica's reaction

On 1 August, Benfica confirmed that the league opener against Académico de Viseu would be the match served behind closed doors. The club had consistently argued that it fulfilled all its duties and implemented all reasonably required measures to prevent such incidents, and that closing the entire stadium was "manifestly disproportionate." In a statement, the club said it "deeply regrets that thousands of members and fans are deprived of supporting the team" and reiterated its "firm disagreement with a measure that indiscriminately penalises the entire Benfica universe." Red Pass season-ticket holders will be reimbursed with the equivalent value in a virtual wallet for future use; the exact method and date will be announced in the coming days.

Benfica deeply regrets that thousands of members and fans are deprived of supporting the team, reiterating its firm disagreement with a measure that indiscriminately penalises the entire Benfica universe.

Académico de Viseu's disappointment

The closed-doors order carries extra weight for the visitors. Académico de Viseu are returning to the Primeira Liga after a 37-year absence, and the club released a statement saying the decision "comes as a serious constraint on a historic moment that deserved to be celebrated by all." The club expressed comfort and gratitude to its supporters, who will be unable to attend the Estádio da Luz, and invited them to a true celebration of football at the renovated Estádio do Fontelo on matchday two.

This decision comes as a serious constraint on a historic moment that deserved to be celebrated by all.

Match context

The fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 9 August 2026, at 20:30 local time at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. It will be the first competitive match without fans at the stadium in almost five years, since the pandemic-era restrictions. Before the league opener, Benfica host Scottish side Hearts on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round.