Sanz, president of the Spanish club from 1995-2000 when they twice won the European Cup and collected a league title, was questioned by investigators in Cordoba, a representative for the Spanish government in Andalusia told state radio.

He had been detained, along with two other people, said Juan Jose Lopez Garzon.

Sanz was subsequently released without charges. 'I had to go through the inconvenience of making a statement about a matter which I had nothing to do with and which they wanted to mix me up with,' Sanz told reporters on his release. -- REUTERS