Portuguese police search football clubs in Russia-linked investigation

Benfica supporters hold the team flag at Marques Pombal Square after beating Guimaraes and winning the Portuguese Premier League title, in Lisbon, Portugal May 17, 2015. REUTERS/Hugo Correia - RTX1DDBG

LISBON (Reuters) - Portuguese police carried out searches at football clubs, including Lisbon's Benfica and Sporting, on Tuesday as part of "Operation Matryoshka Dolls", an investigation into suspected money laundering with likely links to Russian crime.

"The searches were carried out because of suspected practices of tax fraud, criminal association, money laundering, corruption and forgery of documents," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.