Ecclestone stopped in Portugal over shotgun: A case reminiscent of Brazil past

There are men whose entire lives are a series of bold decisions, but sometimes, it is the smallest details that make them stop. Bernie Ecclestone, the most powerful former boss of Formula 1, just had an unpleasant morning at Tires airfield, near Cascais, Portugal, when police found a shotgun in his luggage on his private jet. The incident seemed like a mere administrative formality, but it recalled a similar case in Brazil two years ago, and raised questions about the preparedness of celebrities when crossing borders. Ecclestone, 95, is a living legend of motorsport. He ran the commercial side of Formula 1 for about 40 years before being ousted in 2026. He owns a home near the Cascais resort, which he frequents. On Monday, he landed at Tires airfield with his wife Fabiana, who serves as vice president for sport at the International Automobile Federation (FIA). According to Ecclestone, he brought the shotgun from Switzerland to attend a clay pigeon shooting event in Portugal. However, he lacked the import permit, often called a "blue book." After passing customs, police asked about the gun and requested documentation, leading to what he called "unnecessary aggravation." In a phone call with Reuters, Ecclestone explained: "All that happened is that I took a gun that I've been using in Switzerland for clay pigeon shooting into the country to do some clay pigeon shooting in Portugal at a place where they had this weekend an exhibition thing going on." He stressed that he had passed customs, but then police asked about the gun and sought documentation. Since he does not speak Portuguese, he had to ask his Brazilian-born wife to go to Lisbon with a customs official to surrender the gun to authorities. Ecclestone said: "So now we've gone through all this and the people in Lisbon have got the gun. I've signed some documents as they wanted." Portuguese newspapers reported that police discovered the shotgun during a routine check. The incident did not lead to any criminal charges, but it highlighted the fact that even the most famous and wealthy people cannot escape legal regulations. This is not the first time Ecclestone has had trouble with weapons. In 2026, he was briefly detained in Brazil for carrying a small handgun in his luggage while boarding a private plane to Switzerland. At that time, he acknowledged owning the gun but said he was unaware it was in his luggage, dismissing the incident as "silly" and "tiny." This time, the case is somewhat similar, but with a shotgun and in a different country. Notably, despite being 95, Ecclestone remains very active, frequently traveling between European countries. He still participates in sports like clay pigeon shooting, which requires focus and precision. Perhaps his passion for that sport led him to be careless about checking documents before departure. Many might think that Ecclestone, with his 95 years and rich life experience, should have known the regulations about bringing weapons into a foreign country. But from another perspective, it is his excessive confidence and the habits of a man accustomed to privileges for decades that may have made him neglect procedural details. This story also reflects a paradox in the sports world: famous people are often treated specially, but when they step off the field, they face the same emotionless bureaucracy as any ordinary citizen. Ecclestone was once a racer, a businessman, and a powerful figure in F1. But at Tires airfield, he was just a passenger carrying a prohibited item. This incident reminds me of my saying: "Football is inherently a play of mistakes — I just contribute to making it more watchable." And with F1, likewise, every mistake becomes part of the story. An interesting detail is that Ecclestone showed no signs of worry or regret. He called the incident "unnecessary aggravation," seemingly treating it as a minor obstacle in his luxurious life. This makes me think of players who get penalized for silly card offenses in big matches. They often justify it as "an accident," but in reality, it reflects a lack of focus and thorough preparation. In sports, as in life, small details can make a big difference. Ecclestone may have been too accustomed to special treatment, forgetting that the law does not discriminate. Ecclestone's case may end peacefully, but it leaves a lesson for all sportspeople: nothing is trivial when it comes to the law. No matter who you are, no matter what heights you have reached, compliance with regulations is unavoidable. And as I always say, "Going down is a way of going up" — being stopped might be an opportunity to reflect and prepare better for next time. Ecclestone may draw this lesson, and we, sports fans, have another interesting story to tell. After all, a legend like him still deserves respect, even if he stumbles occasionally. As I often say: "I mispronounced three times on live broadcast, but that doesn't make me wrong with myself." Perhaps Ecclestone is the same; he may be wrong about procedures, but no one can deny what he has contributed to the world of racing.