LISBON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Former Benfica chairman Joao Vale e Azevedo was questioned on Friday by magistrates probing allegations of misuse of funds at the heavily indebted club, police said.
Vale e Azevedo, who led Benfica for three years until losing a battle for re-election last October, was taken by police to the headquarters of the judicial police in Lisbon on the order of the magistrates, a spokesman said.
The spokesman gave no further details.
According to reports, magistrates are investigating a number of player transfers carried out during the former chairman's period in charge at Benfica, Portugal's most popular club.
Vale e Azevedo has denied any wrongdoing and has said he would welcome an investigation into the club's finances.
The judicial move came just 24 hours after Finance Minister Joaquim Pina Moura told parliament there were indications of 'irregularities' during Vale e Azevedo's administration.
'In work already done on analysing the former Benfica chairman's economic, financial and monetary relations... there are signs of irregularities,' Pina Moura said without giving details.
The former European champions said recently they had debts of some 20 billion escudos (£63million), including some two billion escudos owed to the government in unpaid taxes.
Pina Moura has given Benfica 30 days to settle part of the tax debt.
Vale e Azevedo was ousted in the club's election by Manuel Vilarinho, who pledged to overhaul Benfica's accounts and revive the fortunes of a team which last won the championship in 1993.
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