LISBON, April 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Portuguese police detained 16 people on Tuesday, including the head of the soccer league, in an investigation into alleged attempts to influence referees, authorities said.

    Those detained in "Operation Golden Whistle" included sports executives and referees ranging in age from 16 to 67 years, policesaid in a statement.

    Valentim Loureiro, chairman of the Portuguese league, and Antonio Pinto de Sousa, head of the league's referees' panel, were among those being questioned, said Gilberto Madail, chairman of the Portuguese Soccer Federation.

    "This is unfortunate but these investigations don't surprise me," Madail said.

    "Because all you have to do is read the comments every Sunday (in newspapers), what has been said about refereeing and referees and what happened and didn't happen."

    According to Portuguese police, about 150 officers searched around 60 homes and offices of sports organizations including those of the national federation.

    The operation was centered on northern Portugal. Enditem