December 17 – Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has vehemently denied being involved in match-fixing after his name was one of those released by Spanish authorities investigating an alleged scandal that took place in La Liga four years ago involving 41 players and officials.
Spain’s anti-corruption public prosecutor filed the allegations in a Valencia court on Monday following a probe into Real Zaragoza’s 2-1 win at Levante on the final day of the 2010-11 campaign that prevented Zaragoza, for whom Herrera played at the time, from being relegated. Every single player involved in the match has been named in the prosecution’s case.
In a statement on Facebook, Herrera said he “never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results.”
“In an on-going legal process involving Real Zaragoza, the club I was honoured to play from 12 until 22 years of age, there are 41 people mentioned, of which I am one.
“If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.”
Zaragoza have been accused of paying €965,000 to Levante’s players to throw the game. The money was allegedly paid by the club into the accounts of nine Zaragoza players plus the then manager, Javier Aguirre (now coach of Japan), and the sporting director, Antonio Prieto.
The public prosecutor accuses those 11 of then withdrawing the money in cash to pay their opponents. The club maintains that the payments were bonuses given to their own players.
The report accuses the Zaragoza president and a number of directors and players of organising the fix though Herrera is not believed to be one of the ringleaders.
“The funds in cash reached the Levante players before the match as part of the remuneration as part of the agreement for Real Zaragoza’s win,” the file states.
Also named in the documentation is Atletico Madrid captain Gabi, like Herrera part of the Zaragoza team at the time. Herrera has represented Spain at U20, U21 and U23 levels and became new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal’s first signing in June this year on a four-year contract.
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