(THE GUARDIAN) - The final-day La Liga victory against Valladolid that secured Valencia's place in the Champions League was prearranged by a criminal gang and up to seven players from the losing side, according to remarks from the judge investigating match-fixing in Spain.
Wire taps carried out by police over the past six months, following suspicions raised by a second division game between Huesca and Gimnastic de Tarragona at the end of the 2017-18 season, have now allegedly caught the former footballer Carlos Aranda, suspected of being the leader of the conspiracy, outlining the result required and claiming that seven players had been bought.
According to extracts of the investigation which were published in the newspaper El Mundo, the former Real Madrid and Leeds United defender Raúl Bravo, accused of organising match-fixing with Aranda, met the Valladolid captain Borja Fernández in a bar during the build-up to the final game of the season.
Fernández then set up a meeting with a number of players. In one of the recordings, Aranda can allegedly be heard saying: "Look brother, Valencia have to win the first half and in the second, OK?"
Valencia won 2-0, with a goal in each half. Valladolid had secured survival the week before, while Valencia needed to win to take the final Champions League place.
Their 2-0 victory denied Getafe the chance to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. There is no suggestion that Valencia, owned by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, were involved in the conspiracy in any way or were aware of it.
Prosecutors believe that this was driven by gambling, not the interests of the clubs. The initial investigation began when the league alerted to suspicious betting patterns at the end of last season in the second division; now the investigation has expanded to include this highly significant first-division match.
In one of the recordings, according to El Mundo, Aranda is heard telling someone: "No one can find out about this and no one means no one, eh. Not your friends, no one."
That same day, wire taps are said to reveal that he called the bookmakers he owns in Málaga and said: "Bet €10,000 (S$15,420) and you'll take €20,000."
Â
He and Bravo were among those arrested last week, accused of leading the criminal gang. They were released on bail having been in jail in Zuera, Zaragoza province.
Fernández was also arrested. All three have denied any wrongdoing.
Borja's representatives put out a statement saying that the player does not even bet and his agent, Gustavo Mateos, told Radio Marca: "He has no doubt about his honour but he is worried. He has asked me to tell the people of Valladolid not to doubt him, that they (can) trust in their captain. Everything will be cleared up. He is sunk. He answered every question: he is the person most interested in finding out what has happened."
When Aranda was released from prison, he said: "In the end, they have put in (prison) those who have the least guilt. I would like to thank the people from the jail, the people from Zaragoza in prison and Huesca. We don't know why (we're here). That's why we came, because we don't know (why) and nor do they."
Bravo said: "Thanks to the local police, the national police, civil guard, judge and fiscal because the truth is that the treatment has been spectacular from the start, they have treated us very well and I can't say anything more. At trial, who is guilty and who is not will be seen."
Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in an ultimately comfortable 4-1 fifth-round victory on Saturday.
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals
Football News -BARCELONA (AFP) - Ivan Rakitic has said Lionel Messi's desire to win the Champions League is proving an inspiration for Barcelona ahead of their Champions League semi-final first
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic
Eden Hazard must deliver more to realise his full potential and help dig Chelsea out of a slump in form, manager Maurizio Sarri said on Wednesday. Eden Hazard Sarri heavily criticised his side's
Chelsea boss Sarri demands more from 'individual' Hazard
Bale Bale penalty kick gives below-par Real Madrid win at Levante. Real Madrid's Gareth Bale came off the bench and coolly converted a penalty kick to secure a 2-1 win at Levante in La Liga on Sunday.
Bale penalty gives below-par Real Liga win - Nine Wide World
How to Read Cell Phone Signal Strength The Right Way. Time to leave the bar. -80 to -89 dBm, then it's generally considered good signal (3 to 4 bars).
What's the best smartphone for getting a signal? Clue: It's
Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. The three-times winners will be aiming not only to retain the trophy they won in 2015 but also build on their legacy as soccer's dominant women's team and further
Soccer: Holders U.S. shrug off weight of World Cup expectations
Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives stars 'licence to express', says Dwight Yorke The key to the Red Devils' surge in form has been the caretaker's perceptive man-management skills, said former
Ole gives stars 'licence to express', says Yorke, Football
Sacked Puel says managing Leicester a 'honour' "It was my honour to work for the late and much-loved Khun Vichai, who gave me the fantastic opportunity to manage his club and share some great
Claude Puel pays to tribute to former Leicester City owner
Tuchel rues missed chances as PSG crash out of Champions League: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel says his side were more deserving of a place in the quarter-finals after a stoppage time Manchester United penalty knocks the French giants out
Robbie Kruse rues missed chances in loss | Sporting News
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs Bournemouth, United Kingdom: Nine-man Tottenham Hotspur's bid for Champions League football was rocked on Saturday after Nathan Ake's last-gasp winner punished red cards for Son Heung-min and Juan Foyth and condemned Spurs to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/04/ake-strikes-late-to-sink-nine-man-spurs/
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs AFP May 4, 2019 AFP No Comments Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Nine-man Tottenham Hotspur's bid for Champions League football was rocked on Saturday after Nathan Ake's last-gasp winner punished red cards for Son Heung-min and Juan Foyth and condemned Spurs to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs - Breitbart
Lyon vs Barcelona: Wasteful Barcelona held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon The La Liga leaders dominated the match at the Groupama stadium but lacked accuracy up front and were grateful to their goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen who made two great saves.
Wasteful Barca held to goalless 0-0 draw at defiant Lyon
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
sportstons.com/soccer/football-japans-maya-yoshida-warns-young-teammates-pressure-comes-with-the-territory/
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates - pressure comes with the territory TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan captain Maya Yoshida warned his young teammates that they will need to handle the pressure that comes with being Asian Cup favourites as the four-time winners prepare to open their campaign against Turkmenistan on Wednesday (Jan 9).
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar