Portuguese Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Mário Centeno. | José Manuel Ribeiro/AFP via Getty Images Police search offices of Eurogroup President Mário Centeno The Portuguese finance ministry says it is cooperating with police.

LISBON – Portuguese police have carried out searches at the offices of the country's Finance Minister Mário Centeno, who this month took over as president of the Eurogroup.

In a short statement sent to POLITICO, the finance ministry confirmed the searches took place Friday. It said the ministry “cooperates openly” with any investigation and will “place at the disposition of the judicial authorities any material requested.”

Various media reports said the searches were linked to allegations of favourable tax treatment for a real estate company owned by family members of the president of Lisbon soccer club Benfica.

The reports were not immediately confirmed by the Public Prosecution Service or the ministry.

Centeno has previously denied any involvement in the tax break allegations which first emerged last September in the news magazine Sábado.

A life-long fan of the Benfica club, Centeno faced criticism recently over revelations he requested seats in the presidential box of the club’s stadium last year to watch a match with arch rivals FC Porto. Centeno’s office said the request was made for security reasons and did not breach a government code of conduct.