Pichardo vs Benfica: Lisbon Tribunal May Redefine How Clubs Care for Athletes

A long-simmering standoff between Olympic triple-jump champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo and Lisbon giant SL Benfica moves from closed-door briefs to open testimony this week, when the Tribunal Arbitral do Desporto (TAD) starts hearing arguments that could cost either side millions and establish fresh rules on how Portuguese clubs care for their stars.

Quick snapshot

• 27–28 January: first public hearings at the TAD headquarters in Lisbon

• Pichardo seeks €1.1 M and official recognition that he quit for “just cause”

• Benfica counters with a €2 M claim for reputational and sporting damage

• Contract originally ran until Los Angeles 2028; athlete walked away in January 2025

• Final pleadings scheduled for 18 February; ruling expected before summer championships

Why the dispute matters

For Portuguese sport lovers, this is more than a private quarrel. A verdict will clarify how far a club’s duty of medical care, access to private health insurance, and respect for an athlete’s autonomy must go. With elite performers increasingly willing to test their contracts in court, lawyers say the Pichardo-Benfica decision could become a landmark reference for future cases in football, handball or even e-sports.

Pichardo’s allegations

The Cuban-born, Portuguese-naturalised jumper argues that Benfica failed to provide adequate medical follow-up after international competitions and blocked him from using the club’s health-insurance policy. He also cites “irreconcilable differences” with technical staff, claiming the situation threatened both his Tokyo 2020 title defence and his long-term earning power. On 12 March 2025 he filed a TAD action requesting €1.1 M in compensation, plus a declaration that his unilateral contract termination was lawful.

Benfica’s counter-attack

Benfica, the encarnados, accuse their former star of contractual breach, pointing to his failure to attend scheduled medical examinations and to enrol on the federation’s athlete platform. The club says his sudden exit damaged its brand image, disrupted training programs and forced costly recruitment changes, adding up to €2 M in losses. Management opened an internal disciplinary case in early 2025 aimed at what it bluntly called “dismissal for cause,” even as Pichardo insisted the employment link was already severed.

Anatomy of a breakup

03 January 2025: Benfica notifies Pichardo of disciplinary proceedings.

13 January 2025: Athlete tears up his contract, four years before its 2028 expiry.

12 March 2025: Lawsuit lands at the TAD.

November 2025: Defence team requests removal of the arbitral panel’s president, alleging bias after Benfica was allowed to amend filings.

27–28 January 2026: Two-day evidentiary marathon begins, with Pichardo testifying first.

What to expect inside the hearing room

Proceedings start at 09:30 each morning. Tuesday is reserved for the athlete’s witnesses and documentary evidence—medical reports, email exchanges, insurance policies. Wednesday, Benfica presents its lineup, including medical staff and club executives. Unlike ordinary courts, the TAD panel of three arbitrators may question directly and steer the debate toward sports-law specifics rather than general labour codes. Observers say the tribunal often encourages settlement talks in the corridor during recesses, though neither camp signals willingness to compromise yet.

Wider legal stakes

Sport-law specialists note that Portuguese jurisprudence on unilateral termination for athletes is still thin. Previous high-profile cases—mostly doping-related suspensions—offer limited guidance on contractual exits grounded in health-care disputes. If the panel sides with Pichardo, clubs across the country may need to bolster medical protocols, revise insurance clauses and budget for higher compliance costs. A Benfica victory, meanwhile, would strengthen clubs’ hand in enforcing training-attendance obligations and claiming reputational damages when stars depart abruptly.

Next dates and possible scenarios

The arbitrators have booked 18 February for closing arguments and are expected to deliberate for several weeks. Three broad outcomes are on the table:

• Full win for Pichardo: contract termination upheld, Benfica ordered to pay; could embolden other athletes to litigate.

• Full win for Benfica: athlete liable for damages; precedent shifts power back to clubs.

• Split decision: each side partly successful, likely prompting appeals to the Supreme Administrative Court, prolonging uncertainty into the outdoor athletics season.

Whatever the result, Portugal’s sporting landscape will soon have a new benchmark on how far the promise of “club family” extends when injuries, insurance and ego collide.