Football
Associated Press 9y

Levante-Zaragoza 2011 Liga tie under investigation for alleged match-fixing

A Spanish state prosecutor summoned players for questioning on Thursday regarding possible match-fixing in a 2011 La Liga fixture between Levante and Real Zaragoza.

The state prosecutor's office in Madrid said in an email that it "has started procedures to investigate match-fixing and has summoned players implicated for questioning on Oct. 3."

The match under investigation was played during the last round of the 2010-11 season. Zaragoza won 2-1 at Levante via two goals by current Atletico Madrid captain Gabi, a victory which saved the club from relegation.

In June 2013, the Spanish league president, Javier Tebas, included the Levante vs. Zaragoza match in a list of nine matches that the league was investigating for possible match-fixing.

Zaragoza said in a statement that they had "no knowledge of any circumstances connected to the investigation'' but would "cooperate with any requests" made by the prosecutor.

A Levante spokesman declined to comment when asked by The Associated Press.

This is the second Levante match in recent years to have come under suspicion of match-fixing. In May 2013, the Spanish league opened a separate investigation into Deportivo La Coruna's 4-0 win at Levante played a month earlier.

If the state prosecutor finds evidence of a crime, then the case will be brought to a judge. Match-fixing is a crime in Spain and can lead to prison sentences for individuals and a club being banned from official competition.

Levante still play in the top flight, while Zaragoza have played in the second division since being relegated in 2013.

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