The offices of Rangers’ Europa League rival Benfica have been raided by local Portuguese authorities amid irregularities over transfers.
The offices of Primeira Liga rivals Sporting Lisbon and Santa Clara were also raided by authorities with “some homes and two law firms” also affected [News Tribune].
The News Tribune report claims that the alleged irregularities over player transfers are only “part” of the investigation.
Sporting Lisbon have confirmed in a statement quoted by the News Tribune that the situation relates to transfer irregularities between 2011-2014.
They have also congratulated Portuguese authorities on their attempts to promote transparency in the nation’s game.
Rangers currently sit atop Europa League Group D after a 3-3 draw with Benfica in their table-topping clash in Lisbon.
Rangers had taken a 3-1 lead in the Estadio de Luz after falling behind early on in a stadium in which Benfica have never tasted defeat in the Europa League.
Despite putting in a spirited display, Rangers struggled to manage the final moments of the game effectively and threw away the two-goal lead in the closing stages of the match.
The Ibrox side is set to welcome the Portuguese giants to Glasgow for the return tie on the 26th of November in what could potentially be a group defining match.
The Portuguese outfit suffered their second domestic defeat on the bounce at the weekend against familiar foes Braga in a 3-2 defeat.
That result leaves them in 3rd in the Portuguese topflight heading into the international break with Sporting Lisbon sitting top and Santa Clara sitting 8th.
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