By Andrew Warshaw
August 8 – Spanish Football League (SFL) president Javier Tebas has revealed that nine domestic games are currently being investigated on suspicion of possible match-fixing, including three in the top division.
Two of the suspected games – Girona versus Xerez and Hercules Alicante against Racing Santander – are already reportedly the subject of court action while Levante versus Deportivo de La Coruna is also under scrutiny though Tebas would “not disclose any more (information) so as not to interfere with the investigation.”
“Match fixing is a cancer we must eradicate,” he said.
Girona president Joaquim Boudas confirmed that his club was one of those under the microscope. “We have been involved in a very sad episode for Spanish football,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tebas has defended Real Madrid’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale amid suggestions the massive transfer fee would fly in the face of financial fair play.
“One hundred million euros is a huge amount of money to spend on a player but if Madrid can afford that then it’s not a question of morality, but of whether it’s a risky move or not,” Tebas said.
The Welshman’s arrival, he said, would boost the profile of Spanish football. “I don’t know much about him, but if Bale is a good player, than I’d rather he was over here than in the Premier League.
“It’s not a question of how much he costs, you have to look at how much money he will generate, and if the LFP has all the stars, it will allow us to maintain high television revenue. All the money the arrival of this type of player generates translates into more revenue.”
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