Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Liga president Javier Tebas believes Zaragoza-Levante match was 'fixed'

La Liga president Javier Tebas says he believes Zaragoza's 2-1 win at Levante in May 2011 was prearranged, and that the current legal investigation into the fixture will find that a crime took place.

El Pais reports that Spanish government anti-corruption investigators believe they have evidence that about a dozen Zaragoza players received bank transfers of 120,000 euros each from their club. They allege that this money was then given to Levante's players in cash after the game had finished in a prearranged deal.

The apparent defence of those who made the payments is that these were legal bonuses paid as an incentive to their own team's players ahead of a must-win fixture in their ultimately successful battle to avoid relegation that season.

Current Atletico Madrid captain Gabi -- who scored both the winning side's goals in the game -- now-retired former Levante captain Sergio Ballesteros and ex-Zaragoza president Agapito Iglesias are among those who faced the investigators' questions on Thursday.

Tebas -- who since taking his position as La Liga chief last year has made investigating match-fixing a priority -- told El Larguero that he believed the game's result had been prearranged, and that the legal investigation would prove him right.

"I believe it was [fixed]," Tebas said. "You do not need to show that the money was handed over or the 'fixed' result took place. The intent to do so is enough: there is a special crime in these circumstances, with the same gravity. We have faith that the police and the investigators will show why we made the complaint. I believe this will end with some of those involved being sentenced [to prison]."

Under legislation introduced in 2010, jail terms of six months to four years can be imposed should a fix be proven, while individual players, coaches or club officials found guilty can be banned from the game for one to six years.

The legal investigation was taking place because La Liga authorities had passed on evidence that something untoward had occurred, Tebas said.

"There have been games where there have been rumours, or those of us on the inside have known about things happening," he continued. "Because we had information direct from the dressing-room or from a director, that something was being offered to another dressing-room to let someone win.

"You know that there is a reality in some games. Then you need to take a legal route to be able to demonstrate that. In this case the real truth will come close with the legal. In La Liga we had some evidence and we took them to the police just over a year ago, and gave them everything we had."

With investigators also reportedly looking at Elche's 1-0 win at Malaga from May 2014, Tebas said his organisation would act strongly against anyone who was found to have fixed a game.

"Without doubt the LFP would take action, above all, because of the damage to ourselves and the affected clubs, and the viability of the competition," he said. "This is the most serious thing that can happen in a sporting competition, that games are not decided sportingly, but predetermined. If that happens the competition itself can fall. You must protect it. So the second this investigation is decided we would act."

Iglesias had eight controversial years controlling Zaragoza, but stepped away last summer, with the club in huge financial difficulty and now playing in the Segunda Division.

The businessman told reporters while leaving the court on Thursday that he was "annoyed" at what was occurring, but relaxed about how it would end.

"I am relaxed, it annoys you to be singled out, but we must go through this," Iglesias said. "The authorities are obliged to investigate. From our side there is nothing."

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