National team manager Javier Aguirre launched an impassioned defense of his integrity as he broke his silence over match-fixing allegations on Saturday.
Aguirre was named as one of 41 defendants in a case filed by Spanish prosecutors on Dec. 15 following an investigation into a 2011 Spanish League match that saw Real Zaragoza — managed by Aguirre at the time — beat Levante 2-1 on the final day of the season to avoid relegation from the first division.
Anti-corruption prosecutors allege that Zaragoza made bank transfers to its own players and officials, who then withdrew the money, totaling $1.2 million, and gave it to Levante's players as payment to throw the match.
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