January 12 – Despite at last managing to concentrate on matters on the pitch – a 4-0 win over newcomers Palestine at the Asian Cup – Japan coach Javier Aguirre continues to face questions about his alleged role in a bribery scandal from his time in Spanish football.
Aguirre is one of those named by Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor in a probe into Real Zaragoza’s 2-1 win at Levante on the final day of the 2010-11 La Liga campaign when Zaragoza, coached at the time by the Mexican, clinched victory to avoid relegation.
The prosecutor alleged the Levante players were paid a total of €965,000 to deliberately lose the game. Aguirre has long denied any involvement and had to shrug off more questioning as he prepared for the Palestine game in Australia.
“I have already held a press conference to speak about this a few weeks ago and won’t be answering that question,” he told reporters.
“I have been at four World Cups, four Gold Cups and three Copa Americas and in each of those tournaments I have only ever spoken about soccer. That is what I want to do at my first Asian Cup.”
The former Mexico and Atletico Madrid boss remains confident his squad can retain their Asian Cup title. “We have to respect the other 15 teams in the tournament but we have confidence in ourselves.”
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