Bernie Ecclestone Denies Arrest Over Shotgun Incident in Portugal

Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula 1, has firmly refuted claims that he was arrested at a Portuguese airport after arriving with a shotgun intended for a clay pigeon shooting competition. The 95-year-old businessman explained that upon his arrival at the Tires Aerodrome in Cascais from Switzerland, he was approached by four police officers and customs officials who requested information regarding the firearm he was carrying. In a statement to the Press Association, Ecclestone described the interaction, noting that he had to 'surrender' the shotgun because he lacked the necessary documentation for its importation into Portugal. Despite the tense nature of the situation, he praised the Portuguese police for their professionalism, insisting that there had been no arrest. Ecclestone elaborated, 'I was going to take part in a clay pigeon shooting competition in Portugal. I went to see the police and said, 'What can I do for you?' And they said, 'We would like some information on this gun you brought in.'' He mentioned that he had previously transported the shotgun from England to Switzerland without any complications, believing there would be no issues this time, given his familiarity with the airport authorities. During the questioning, which lasted about an hour, officials informed him that he must relinquish the shotgun due to the absence of the required paperwork. This incident marks a continuation of Ecclestone's previous legal entanglements concerning firearms. Last year, he faced legal trouble in Brazil when he was arrested for attempting to board a private plane to Switzerland with a gun, ultimately resulting in a fine of 6,000 Brazilian reals (approximately £1,000).