Portugal: Expansion of Estádio da Luz and threat of stadium closure

source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra

Portugal: Expansion of Estádio da Luz and threat of stadium closure Following Benfica’s official statement, in which the club strongly criticized the refereeing in the Portuguese Cup final against Sporting, the club risks facing a severe penalty — a ban from using the Estádio da Luz for up to three months. Amid these developments, the stadium’s modernization has commenced.

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Club’s firm response after controversial cup match

In Benfica’s statement, there was also mention of refusing to host future Portugal national team matches at Estádio da Luz. This directly violates Article 72 of the disciplinary regulations. According to the rules, clubs that unjustifiably deny the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) access to their stadium for national team matches or neutral venue games may face a stadium ban lasting from one to three months.

The regulations state: A club that without justified cause refuses to make available to the FPF the stadium where it hosts its home matches for the organization of national team games or matches designated by the FPF as neutral will be subject to a penalty consisting of a ban on using its stadium for a period of one to three months and a fine ranging from 10 to 20 accounting units (1 unit = 100 euros).

Estádio Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Estádio da Luz)© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Expansion works have begun

Somewhat overshadowed by the controversy, renovation and expansion works at Estádio da Luz have commenced, as announced by Rui Costa. The objective is to increase the stadium’s capacity to 70,000 seats, reflecting growing demand for season tickets. Initial images of the construction progress have appeared on social media, sparking considerable discussion among fans.

The project will be executed in phases, as the investment—officially announced by Benfica’s president in November 2024—is scheduled for completion in the 2026/27 season. Photographs show that the lower-tier stands will be extended closer to the pitch, an adjustment that many supporters associate with creating a more intense, English-style atmosphere.

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