Benfica security guards accused of 'touching genitals' during pre-match searches

Benfica security guards have been accused of overstepping the mark by touching Paris Saint-Germain fans' private parts during "intrusive searches" ahead of their Champions League tie.

Portuguese media are highlighting claims by supporters of the French side that guards shoved their hands down their pants and knickers before letting them into the ground on Wednesday. The hashtag #BenficarapedMe was on Friday circulating on Twitter.

Paul-Henry Strasser's testimony to a French radio station was echoed by leading Portuguese dailies including sports daily Record. The PSG fan claimed: "The security guard came up to me, pulled my shorts down and pulled up my boxers.

"He had his hands inside my boxers and he touched my genitals. The same thing happened to women.

"I would like everyone to know about this. We are clearly talking about abusive and sexually-orientated touching."

A woman called Candace was quoted as saying: "A lady started going through my backpack normally and then my wallet. No big deal, nothing to hide. Then came the body search.

"First they started touching my bra, then they put their hand inside my underwear for a minute before putting their hand on my crotch for a long time. It was all very unpleasant. I left shocked as did many other fans.

"We didn't do anything or say anything for fear of the security guards' reaction but what we experienced was not normal."

The fresh claims about the behaviour of the some of the security guards at Benfica's Estadio da Luz stadium come a month after similar complaints by visiting Maccabi Haifa fans.

The Portuguese side won the September 6 tie 2-0 and held PSG to a 1-1 draw after Danilo Pereira cancelled out Lionel Messi's brilliant first-half goal.

A Maccabi Haifa supporter named only as Yuval told Portuguese press after the game some women felt like they had been raped.

He added: "They had hands put under their bra and in their private parts down below front and back. Some were told to take their T-shirts off. In my case they put their hands inside my boxers."

There has not yet been any official reaction from Benfica to the reports.

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