December 29 – Japan’s national team coach Javier Aguirre has broken his silence over allegations of match-fixing when he worked in Spain with a passionate defence of his conduct and reputation.
The Mexican has been named as one of 41 defendants in a case filed by Spanish prosecutors following an investigation into a 2011 La Liga fixture that saw Real Zaragoza – coached by Aguirre at the time – beat Levante 2-1 on the final day of the season to avoid relegation from the first division.
They allege that Zaragoza made bank transfers to its own players and officials, who then withdrew the money, totalling $1.2 million, and passed it on to Levante’s players as payment to throw the match.
The investigating judge overseeing the case in Valencia must now decide whether to go ahead with the prosecution, but Aguirre vehemently protested his innocence when he faced the media for the first time since the case was made public.
“I worked in Spain for 12 years and I have never done anything unethical or unprofessional,” the 56-year-old said at the Japanese FA’s headquarters in Tokyo. “The only thing you need to win is effort. I don’t give anyone presents and I don’t go looking for any.”
Aguirre was in charge of Zaragoza from November 2010 until December 2011 and the investigation has come at a particularly inopportune time for Japan which heads to Australia shortly to defend its Asian Cup trophy.
But a defiant Aguirre insists he is 100% focussed on the job.
“I am not going to waste even one minute thinking about anything other than winning the Asian Cup,” said Aguirre who took over as Japan coach from Alberto Zaccheroni after this summer’s World Cup. “I would like you to look at the 39 years of my career. This will not affect my job in the slightest. I will cooperate fully with the prosecutors and defend myself until the end.”
“The players involved in the (Zaragoza-Levante) match are still playing every weekend, and the Zaragoza directors are still doing their jobs. The referee from that match is still blowing his whistle. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to carry on with my job? I am innocent until proven guilty, and I have the right to work.”
Aguirre claimed he was “as surprised as everyone else” to learn of the investigation, and insists he remembers nothing untoward about the match in question.
“It was just the same as any other game I managed. I prepared to win and made my substitutions to win. The other team’s goalkeeper made some good saves, but there was nothing he could do about our goals because they were great goals.
“Then we conceded a goal and we had to hold on until the end. Both teams were going for the win, and it was a very close game. I remember it like it was yesterday. 12,000 of our fans traveled to Valencia for the game.”
The case is expected to last several months before a verdict is reached, but Aguirre insists he has no intention of stepping down. “In all my career, in Mexico, in Spain and in the United States, I have never once quit a job when I am under contract.”
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