Soccer News: The English Premier League have insisted their rules are guaranteed to safeguard the sport and deter any unsavoury characters from becoming involved in the game.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric is due to confirm later this week the appointment of Alexandre Gaydamak as a joint-owner of the club.

The two men have reached an agreement "in principle", with Gaydamak to purchase 50 per cent of Portsmouth for £15 million before making what is understood to be a significant financial contribution.

But the background of the 30-year-old remains sketchy with little known other than he is the son of a Russian billionaire, Arcadi Gaydamak, whose own past has a dubious cloud hanging over it.

For the last six years, Gaydamak senior has refused to respond to an international arrest warrant issued by a French investigating magistrate.

He is wanted for questioning in relation to his alleged part in an oil-for-arms deal to Angola in 1994, apparently brokered by a former associate.

Gaydamak senior has long denied any wrongdoing, although has chosen not to return to France at any time since 2000, with the 53-year-old presently residing in Moscow.

Understandably, in light of such information, questions are being raised with regard to Gaydamak junior and the origin of the money he is seemingly prepared to pump into the Fratton Park club.

However, Gaydamak first has to sign a Director's Declaration drawn up by the Premier League to ensure he is a fit and proper person to be running one of their clubs.

Although no background checks are made, they believe the document in itself is enough to ward off unsuitable characters.

A Premier League spokesman said: "We have a number of rules in place to ensure good corporate governance is followed, and that the game is not compromised."

Among the league's regulations, a person will be disqualified from acting as a director if:

He is involved in, or has power to determine or influence the management or administration of another club or Football League club.

Holds or acquires 10 per cent of shares of a club while holding shares in another club.

Becomes prohibited by law from being a director.

Is convicted on indictment of an offence, which includes the likes of conspiracy to defraud, insider dealing, obtaining money by deception, false accounting and tax evasion.